Skip to main content

Full text of "Some records of Sussex County, Delaware"

See other formats 


■««fl«Ki(m4inWMip 




/ ^/ 



/ 



/• 



r 



/ 



/ 



/ 



/ 






CORNELL 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 




FROM THE BOOKS OF 

GEORGE MORGAN WELCH '03 

COLONEL 

Judge Advocate General's Department 
Army of the United States 



F 172S8 W"'™'"*'"-"'"'^' 



^°'llHllimMifiii?iiiiini'i?i?i?'' County Delaware 



olin 




3 1924 028 865 520 




Cornell University 
Library 



The original of tiiis book is in 
tine Cornell University Library. 

There are no known copyright restrictions in 
the United States on the use of the text. 



http://archive.org/details/cu31924028865520 



A n. IB3I- 




SOME RECORDS 



SUSSEX COUNTY 

DELAWARE 



COMPILED BY 



C. H. B. TURNER 

LEWES, DELAWARE 



PHILADELPHIA 

ALLEN, LANE & SCOTT 

1909 



t 



PREFACE. 



Some of the records in this book have been pubhshed 
before, but in a form inaccessible to most people. 

Previous to the settlement of the dispute between Lord 
Baltimore and Penn Sussex County was only 30 miles long 
and 12 miles wide. That is the portion referred to in these 
records. 

I am deeply indebted to the Rev. Sadler Phillips, Chaplain 
to the Bishop of London, and the Rev. and Mrs. P. T. 
Mignot of Guernsey for many kindnesses shown me when 
searching for records in Europe. 

To Mr. WiUiam M. Marines' " Bombardment of Lewes," 
I owe most of my information about that important event. 

C. H. B. T. 
Lewes, Del., November 5, 1909. 



SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 



' ' There is probably no State in the Union where one would 
find less material for writing its history than in Delaware," 
says the American Historical Association in its report for 
1906. 

Let one attempt to write the history of any portion of 
Delaware and the statement of the American Historical 
Association will be found only too true. 

Where Lewes now stands the Indians had a village called 
Sikoness, or Sikeoyness. We can imagine the astonishment 
of the savages as on August 28th, 1609, Henry Hudson sailed 
into the bay opposite the village. 

From that time until 1631, when the expedition called 
Devries' expedition sailed into what is now called Delaware 
Bay and planted the Colony on a point of land above Lewes, 
which the colonists called Swaanendael, the Indians saw very 
few, if any, white persons. 

The VanRenssalaer Bowier papers give us some account 
of the doings at Swaanendael until the colonists were mas- 
sacred by the Indians. It is as follows: — 

"With the de Walvis, they, in 1631, took possession of the bay of 
the South River in New Netherland, occupying the place of their 
colony with twenty-eight persons engaged in whaling and farming, 
and made suitable fortifications, so that in July of the same year their 
cows calved and their lands were seeded and covered with a fine crop, 
until finally by the error of their Commis all the people and the 
animals were lamentably killed, whereby they suffered incalculable 
damage, which damage the remonstrants attempted to repair in the 
year 1632 with the former ship den Walvis and besought the Com- 
pany to lend a helping hand, who neither by word or deed would 
render any assistance." 

Samuel Godjn, Patroon of Swaandael, sold out to the 
West India Company, July, 1634. 

There had been considerable friction between Kilian* and 
the West India Company, because Kilian wanted colonists 
to till the land, and the West India Company were opposed 
to having the land cleared and settled, as it caused a scarcity 
of fur-bearing animals. 

* Van Renssalaer. 



I SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The VanRenssalaer Bowier papers say: — 

"During the two years when the late Mr. Godijn and his people 
were trading in Swanendael, the Company received from the South 
River^ through their servants, a no less quantity of skins than in 
former or later years, but he obtained his furs in addition to these by 
bartering with other tribes. 

"This caused so much jealousy that the Company sent a Commis 
there, trading close by the people of Godijn, deprived him in one 
year of over SOO skins in Swanendael alone." 

Again Kiliaen VanRenssalaer says: "We are trying to 
populate the land and in time to spread the teaching of the 
Holy Gospel by many people, while they (the West India 
Company), on the contrary, employing only a few people, 
look solely for the profits of the fur trade." 

The Swedes do not seem to have attempted to colonize 
what is now Sussex County. 

Secretary Van Tienhoven, writing from The Hague, Feb- 
ruary 22d, 1650, says: "The further progress of the Swedes 
could be prevented and neutralized by planting a Colonic 
at Swaanendael, otherwise called the Whorekil, on the West 
side of the Bay." 

And he also says: "Send a clergyman, or, in his place 
provisionally, a Comforter of the Sick, who could also act as 
Schoolmaster." 

While records are lacking that would tell us many things 
to the credit of the Dutch, the above record sets forth in a 
few words that they had a care for men's souls, as well as 
for their minds and bodies. 

The Hoorn Kil, the name given these parts by the Dutch 
settlers, unfortunately spelled Horekil, Whorekill, and so 
many other ways, suggests the love of David Pietersen de 
Vries for his native place the municipality of Hoorn. 

Vice-Director Alrichs, writing to Amsterdam, Holland, 
from New Amstel, on the South River, August 13th, 1657, 
says : "I have already stated that there is a fine and excellent 
country called the Whorekil, abounding very much in wild 
animals, birds, fish, &c., and the land is so good and fertile 
that the like is nowhere to be found. It lies at the entrance 
of the Bay, about two leagues up from Cape Henlopen." ■ 

Lord Baltimore's people were giving the Dutch on the 
South River much uneasiness by their claims to all the 
territory occupied by the Dutch, from New Amstel to the 
Whore Kil. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 6 

'' The Marylanders were threatening New Amstel and the 
Whore- Kil; New Amstel, being the more important place, 
the Dutch "did resolve to quit the Whore- Kill, thinking 
it better to quitt that place then to run the hazard of weak- 
ening New Amstell. The English then came out of Mary- 
land, from a part now , called Somersett County and drew 
neere the Whorekill, tradeing with the Indians. Where- 
upon it was reported that the said English men began to 
build and settle in that part of the country. 

"A Commander and sixteen men were sent to the Whore- 
kill to take possession againe, but another 'resolucSn' was 
taken a short time after to call the said soldiers back, and 
soe the Whorekill was left againe. 

"There was likewise a boate dispatched to the Whorekill 
and there plundered and tooke possession of all effects be- 
longing to the Citty of Amsterdam, as alsoe what belonged 
to the Quaking Society of Plockhoy to a very naile, ac- 
cording to the letter written by one of that company to the 
City of Amsterdam, in which letter complaint was made 
that the Indians at the Whorekill had declared they never 
sold the Dutch any land to inhabitt." 

The Dutch placed buoys in the Bay, 1658. The same 
year the Whore Kil was annexed to New Amstel. 

In 1657 the Indians near Lewes, or the Whore Kil, had 
captured some shipwrecked English. 

Word was sent to Vice-Director Alrichs at New Amstel. 
In a letter from Alrichs to Mr. Petrus Stuy^resant, Director- 
General of New Netherland, dated Fort New Amstel, Oc- 
tober 29th, 1657, he says: "Since writing the foregoing 
I have tried in several ways, as for instance dispatching 
first Capt. Flaman, to go to the Horekil, to release the 
English, who were shipwrecked there with two boats, but 
he, Flaman, has come back, without having accomplished 
anj^hing on account of the loss of an anchor; I then have 
sent Michiel * * * there, who, after an absence of 14 
days ransomed the remaining Englishmen from the Indians 
and brought them here together * * *, to the number 
of 14." 

One of the earliest settlers in the Whore Kil was Hal- 
manius Frederick Wiltbank, to whom was granted 800 
acres of land, July 28th, 1676. There were grants to others 
at the same date: Henry Strieker, Timothy Love, (Re- 
hoboth Creeke), Randall Reveille, John King, Robert Winder, 



4 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Daniel Harte, John Roods (Roads), Daniel Brown, Alex- 
ander Molestine, Abraham Clemmy, and Otto Wolgast. 

As we shall see later Wiltbank played a more important 
part in the history of Lewes than did the others named 
above. 

Order Appointing a day of General Fasting and Prayer: 

"Honorable, Dear, Faithful 

"Although the most merciful God, rich in grace and compassion, 
hath, notwithstanding our unworthiness, watched over us hitherto 
and daily gives us abundant cause to proclaim His praise and to 
bless His august name for the innumerable benefits and favors ex- 
hibited from time to time, in granting peace and quiet both with 
our neighbouring Christian nations and the Indians, the natives 
of the country, as well as in bestowing a bountiful harvest, having 
certainly blessed our basket of bread and staff of life, wherein His 
goodness and beneficence are clearly manifest. 

"Yet, considering that the righteous God hath visited many and 
divers inhabitants of this Province, not only this summer, with pain- 
ful and long, lingering sickness, but, moreover, also, that His kindled 
anger and uplifted hand threaten with many and divers punishments, 
especially with a devastating Indian war, which is no other than a 
just punishment and visitation of our God for our enormous sins of 
unbelief, dilatoriness in God's service, blaspheming His holy name, 
desecrating the Sabbath, drunkenness, lasciviousness, whoredom, 
hate, envy, lies, fraud, luxury, abuse of God's gifts, and many other 
iniquities. And because we run counter to God in our sins, God, 
in His threatenings will oppose us with punishments, unless we turn 
to Him, (whom, in our iniquities we have abandoned) in sincere 
humility and true contrition of heart that He may turn aside His 
wrath from us, and assist and bless us with His favor, therefore, we 
have considered it necessary, to that end, to proclaim Wednesday, 
the 15th October of the current year, a day of Universal Fasting 
and Prayer, and, accordingly, notify and command all our officers 
and subjects that they prepare themselves on the aforesaid day to 
appear, at the time aforesaid, with changed heart, at the usual place 
in the usual place in the general meeting, not only to hear God's 
word, but also, unanimously, with an humble and penitent heart, 
solemnly to call on the Lord's name that it may please His Divine 
Majesty to remove from our road His just plagues, wherewith we 
are already stricken, and to divert His rod, which flourishes over 
us, and to pour down His wrath upon the Heathen who know not 
His name; to take this budding Province into His fatherly pro- 
tection; to maintain it against the efforts of all evil-minded men 
who seek its ruin; merciful to visit the inhabitants of this Province 
with corporeal and spiritual blessings, that the Word of Truth may 
be proclaimed and spread among many people, and that their rulers 
may be as lights among this evil and perverse generation; that to 
this end God may vouchsafe to send forth faithful laborers into His 
harvest to proclaimi unto Jacob his sins and unto Israel his trans- 
gressions; particularly that God may be pleased to endow our Magis- 
trates and regents of this land with understanding, wisdom, fore- 



CIVIL RECORDS. 5 

sight and godliness, that they may resolve, design and valiantly 
execute whatsoever may be of service to the happiness of the country 
and welfare of the inhabitants both in body and soul. In order 
that it may the better be put into practice, we interdict and forbid, 
during divine service on the day aforesaid, all exercises and games 
of tennis, ball-playing, hunting, fishing, ploughing, sowing, and, 
moreover, all other unlawful practices, such as dice, drunkenness, 
on pain of the corporeal correction and punishment thereunto al- 
ready affixed; in like manner are all servants of the Divine Word, 
within our government, hereby admonished to direct their preaching 
and prayers to this end. 

"Thus done and concluded in our Council, in Fort Amsterdam, 
in Kew Netherland, the 30th September, 1659. 

"Signed P. Stuyvesant 

"C. VAN RuYVEN, Secretary. 

"Delivered the writing to Domine Welius on the 10th of this 
October. 1659." 

At this date Lewes, or the Hoorn Kil, was part of New 
Netherland, and the inhabitants were obliged to observe 
this, the first Fast Day, of which there is any record. 

October 16th, 16S9, Director Alrichs was made very angry 
by a statement of two of the Commissioners of the Director 
General of New Netherland, that the Fort at the Horekil or 
Sikonesse was "apparently built more for private designs 
than for the good of the Country." 

Alrichs said: "We demand hereby further explanation and 
interpretation of these words, for it will not do to blurt out 
every thing bad and to make honest people suspected by their 
Masters and Principals without foundation and reason. * * * 
We say we could not do else, but what we have done until now, 
' nor that we know to have promised the recall of the garrison 
from the Horekil, as your Honors say,' but only of a few 
men, according to your Honor's advice, who were really 
ordered up, but afterwards remained for some reason there." 

At a court-martial held in New Amstel November 3d, 1659, 
to try one Samuel, a Corporal, who " while very drunk did not 
obey the order to go into arrest, because he had beaten his 
own wife, whereupon the Lieutenant struck him with his 
ratan, Samuel tore the same from his hand, the Lieutenant 
then drew his sword and struck him with the flat side of it 
and drove him, with the assistance of the Sergeant into the 
guardhouse. The Lieutenant said that he abused him 
meanwhile very much." 

The Sheriff Van Sweeringen demanded that Samuel be 
shot. 



O SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Samuel's wife came to Vice-Director Beekman, " saying 
that her husband had been condemned last Wednesday or 
the Sthinst. to be banished the Colony for 6 months, but that 
as yet he was kept in chains and that now another resolution 
had been taken to send him with three men to the Horekil, 
about which she' was very grieved." 

The conditions of the Horekil must have been quite differ- 
ent from the Lewes of the present day, for banishment to 
Lewes would be considered a reward rather than a punish- 
ment. 

In 1660 the aforesaid Samuel was carried away from the 
Horekil by Michiel Carman, who got in trouble for the act. 

A ferry between Cape May and Lewes was established very 
early in the history of the Horekil for we read, July, 1660, 
that "the sail-boat or ferry at the Horekil has been cast 
ashore and badly damaged; the garrison have sent me word, 
(Beekman, at New Amstel) several times and complained 
that they are victualled very sparingly." 

Word was received by Beekman at New Amstel, 1662, "that 
the Horekil was to be abandoned and the City's soldiery 
here (Hoorn Kil) to be disbanded." 

This did not happen, for the ship St. Jacob,* skipper Peter 
Luckassen, which arrived at New Amstel July 28th, 1663, with 
about sixty farm laborers and girls, had left "41 souls with 
their baggage and farm utensils at the Horekil." 

1663. May 12th. Herry Petefar, Englishman, and Jacob 
Jansen, Dutch sailor, make a declaration at request of Peter 
Alrick, commander of the South River, that without his and 
the people's assistance no goods could have been saved from 
the bark "King Charles," stranded on April 12th, last, near 
Cape Hinlopen. Witness, Jurien Blanck and Michiel Taeleus. 

The English having taken New Amsterdam,- 1664, the 
"ffrygotts, the Guinney, and the William and Nicholas, 
and all the souldyers which are not in the Fort" were 
ordered to proceed to the Delaware as speedily as possible 
to capture the towns, &c. Thus ended the Dutch rule for 
some years. 

The EngHsh granted Mr. Peter Alrichs "liberty to Trade 
or Trafficke either by himself, or his Deputy with the 
Indyans or any others, in or about Hoare Kills in Delaware 
Bay, for Skins, Peltry or what other Commodityes those 
parts shall afford." 

* Plockhoy came in this ship. See page 34. 




A 
o 

W 



CIVIL RECORDS. 7 

In 16^f "there was no officer at ye Whore-Kill to keep 
the Peace." 

William Douglass was sent to New Castle for trial. It 
was charged against him that he had "behaved himself ill 
at ye Whore- Kill." The Court ordered "hee shall bee 
Continued in Prison, untill farther Order, but that his Irons 
bee taken off. However if hee can give security not to 
returne to ye Whore- Kill &c hee may bee Discharg'd." 

Very early in the history of Sussex County the inhabit- 
ants protested against tarifE, and the Governor, Sir Francis 
Lovelace, and his Council ordered: "Whereas, I Received 
a Petition from ye Inhabitants at ye Whorekill in Delaware 
Bay wherein is represented unto me ye great Inconvenience 
of ye late Imposition of 10 P. Cent upon all furres & peltry 
exported from thence, The wch hath no way redounded to 
a publique good as was proposed, &c & Ihave thought fitt 
to remitt & abolish ye late ord'' for custumes there October 
22. 1670." 

William Tom and Peter Alricks wrote Governor Lovelace, 
March 9th, 167-^, of the "intention to build a blockhouse 40 
foote square wth 4 att every for fflancks in the middle of the 
Towne the Fort not being fitt to be repaired and if repaired 
of noe defence lying at the extreme entrance of the town 
and noe garrison therefore wee beg that wee may libty to 
pull itt downe and make use of the tiles bricks and other 
materials for the use of o' new intended fortificacion w"*" if 
wee have noe occasion for, as wee fear wee shall, will be con- 
venient for a Courthouse notwithstanding." 

This fort was destroyed before 1773, as an Act of the 
Assembly, for that year, for erecting a bridge over Lewes 
Creek, states that the bridge is "to begin at or near the 
place where the fort in the said town stood." 

Trouble had been brewing between the people of Mary- 
land and the people of the Hore Kil for some time. It was 
the trouble about Lord Baltimore's grant, as to the boundaries 
North and East. 

A letter from the Hore Kil, April 27th, 1672, signed by Will 
Tom, Pieter Alricks, Waif Wharton, Ed. Cantwell, states: 
"This morning appeared before us Harmen Cornelius ent 
John hyshebon who informe that a certain prson by name 
Mr. Jenkins who rane into the Horekill and thus surveyed 
severall lands in the bay by p 'tended commission from the 
Lord Baltimore threatening the Inhabitants that denyeth 



8 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

his power that they shall be sent for into Maryland there to 
be punished whether he has commission or noe is uncertayne 
these we thought fitt to acquaint yo' hon"' to wayte y"" 
hon"' further order." 

Richard Perrot, of Virginia, asks for a grant of land on 
the Horekil. 

' ' May it plese your Honour 

"In May last my selfe with some other Gentlemen of Vergeney 
came over to Delieware to see the plase and liking the plase wee 
made choise of severall tractes of Land for our Selfes and nabores and 
had made bold to have given your Honor A visitt had not one of our 
Company falen ill so that wee implied Mr. Walter Wharton ffor to 
paten our Land: now may it plese your Honor about four days be- 
fore I came to seete [settle], the Mareland men Have sarvaed it again 
in the Lordes name I much fear it will disharten the Rest of the 
gentlemen from cuming vp at the falle and severall more of our nabores 
that would cume vp at the fale of the lefe very Honest-men and 
good House Keepers they desired me to take them vp sume Land, 
which I am doutfuU to doue unless your Honor will bee plesed to 
give me permission for it. 

' ' I dout not but to se the plase well seted in tow or three years at 
the * ^: * and a trade from London, the plase is good and helthy 
and wanteth nothing but peple I was in good Hopes I should have 
had the hapines to have got vp before your Honore left deliware 
but my hopes was in vaine I Hope your honor will bee plesed to 
honor me with A line or two whoe is youre faithful and obedient 
servant unknowne 
"From THE HoREKiL "Richard Perrot. 

"June 21, 1672." 

This P. S. is added to the above letter. 

' ' If your Honore plese to grant us all the land to us Vergenianes 
that lieth betwene the Horekil and the Mortherkill wee shall take 
spedey care fore the seating of it, as may bee expected at so great a 
distance when Layed out according to menes familise what good Land 
there may bee found in the distance. I know not at present wee Have 
A desire to be neare together as the plase will aforde I intend Ver- 
geney for sum occasione of bisnes and send up my sonn. " R. P. 

"These ffor the Honored ffransis Loulis, Esqr. Governor and Cap- 
tain Generall of new Yorke pr with Care," 

At a Council held at Fort James, New York, July I'st, 1672, 
among other cases to be tried was that of Daniel Brown who 
had been arrested at the Horekil and sent, prisoner, to New 
York. 

The court ordered Daniel to enter into a Recognizance of 
£20 for his good behavior on his return to the Horekil, and 
that Daniel was to ask pardon of the Magistrates at the 
Horekil on his return. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 9 

At the same court this order was made: 

"The Request of ye Magistrates at the Whore-Kill being taken 
into Considercon, wherein they desire reperacon of the Damages & 
Losses they susteyned by the Privateers the last Winter, they may be 
permitted to lay an Imposition upon strong liquo''^. 

"It is allowed of & consented unto, and the Magistrates there have 
hereby power to levy & receive upon each Anchor of strong liquo''^ 
spent of disposed of amongst them the value of foure Guild'^ in 
%vamp™, & this to continue for one year only after this shall come to 
the said Magistrates hands, untill the Conveniency or Inconveniency 
thereof shall better appear." 

One Jones with a number of companions from Maryland 
attacked the Whorekil and plundered the inhabitants. Word 
having been sent to the Governor at New York, Lovelace, 
he wrote the following letter to Governor Philip Calvert of 
Maryland, August 12th, 1672: — 

"Sr. I thought it had been impossible now in these portending 
boysterous times, wherein all true hearted Englishmen are buckling 
on their Armors to vindicate their Hono' & to assert ye imperial 
Interests of his Sacred Majesties Rights and Dominions, that now 
(without any just ground either given or prtended) such horrid 
Outrages should be committed on his Mati'^s Leige subjects, under 
ye protection of his Royall Highness Authority as was exercized by 
one Jones, who w"^ a party as dissolute as himself, took ye paines to 
ride to ye Whore Kill, where in Derision and Contempt of the Dukes 
Authority bound ye Magistrates, and Inhabitants, despitefuUy treated 
them, rifled, and plundered them of their Goods; and when it was 
demanded what Authority, hee acted, answered in noe other language 
than a Cockt Pistol to his Breast, wch if it had spoke, had forever 
silenced him. • 

"I doe not remember I have heard of a greater Outrage & Riott 
committed on his Majesties Subjects in America, but once before in 
Maryland. 

"Sr you cannot but imagine his Royall Highness, will not bee satis- 
fied w"' those violent proceeding; in wch ye Indignity rebounds on 
him; Neither can you but believe. It is as easy an Undertaking for mee 
to retaliate the same Affront on Jones his Head and Accomplices as 
hee did to those indefensible Inhabitants. 

"But I rather chuse to have first a more calme Redress from you, 
to whom I now appeale, and from whom may in Justice expect that 
Right in ye Castigation of Jones cum Socys, that yo' Nature and Law 
has provided for: Otherwise I must applye myselfe to such other 
Remedyes as the Exigence of this Indignity shall perswade mee to. 
Thus leaving it to your Consideracion I still remaine 

"Yo"' very humble servant "Fr Lovelace. 

"Fort James in New York 

"Ye 12th day August 1672." 

Captain John Carr writes the following letter from New 
Castle to Gov. Lovelace: — 



10 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"Sir: — Accordirig to your Honors orders we sent those papers to 
the Horekil by Mr. Wharton where they found noe reception. I 
need not give your Honor the reasons, for your Honor will find them 
in the papers inclosed taken by Mr. Wharton, the number of men ami 
horse that came to the Horekil was about thirty, but they were 
sixty halfe way, where meeting Mr. Parrot goeing to Acamahe and 
soe to Virginia and understanding by him there was noe other forces 
from your Honor but the Inhabitants of the Horekil thirty horse 
was sent back to Maryland, this Mr. Parrot is a gentleman seated 
near Horekil by your Honor's patent, the Horekil boat is come heere 
with fower of the inhabitants and desiers to take a tract of land, up 
the river near your Honors land, they say before they came from 
thence Harmanus and Sanders was returned from St. Maries, who 
brings news that in Maryland they are levieing a considerable force 
to bring this place &c. to their obedience. "John Carr." 

Answer to Carr's letter: — 

"Capt Carr: — The Letf you sent by Express over Land came 
safe to my hands w* the enclosed Relacion and Papers concerning 
the Whore Kill, & the Marylanders forcible possessing themselves of 
the Place, as also of the Goods and Estates of some of the Inhabitants 
of w* wee had some Rumo'^ before, but did not give much. Credit 
to it, supposing what was done before to bee the rash Action of some 
Private person, not thinking the Authority of Maryland would invade 
his Royall Highness Territoryes w^^" he hath been possest of for near 
8 yeares &c. &c. 

" Yo'' very Loving Friend Fr. Lovelace. 

"Forte James in New York 
"the 7th day of OctoV 1672" 

Captain Cantwell to Governor Lovelace about the affairs 
at the Whorekil: 

"N. Castle ye 10 of December 1672 

"Right Honorab'-^ Sk :— Yo'' Hono'' writt Mr Aldrichs of my not 
writing to yo' bono'' I had writt to Capt. NichoUs att Large of what 
I heard and saw in Maryland. 

"I thought Capt. NicoUs would have informed yo'' bono"' of all I 
heard so much that my Lorde thus intend for to keepe ye Whore kill. 

"I saw Jones procure and seas all Indyan goods or skins att ye 
Whorekill and one Smith ye Judge of ye Co''' att ye Whorekill tould 
me that my Lorde Baltemore gave him order for to drive a 20d naile 
in ye touchhole of ye greate gun and seas ye guns and millstones att 
ye Whorekill. 

"His Commmission was so Large as yo"' hono'' canimagene, when 
I came to St. Mary's Jones went to ye Govemo and he ■writt upon ye 
backside of his Comission that he would maintain his Comission. 

"I tould them that itt was folly for them to strive against yo"" 
hono'''= power and tould them if yo'' bono' gave but order for to 
beatt a down all ye servants would come away from them, ye most 
part of ye people thus fear that theire servants will run away from 
them all ye people will be glade submitt themselves under yo'' bono'''* 



CIVIL RECORDS. 11 

Government and they plainly say that they will not Resist yC' honors 
power nor will have noting to doe with what my Lorde has done &c 
&c 

"To Command "Ed Cantwell." 

Order for the Administration of the Horekil Precint: — 

"At a Council in New York April 14, 1673 It is Ordered, That a 
Commission be sent to ye Officers & Magistrates at Delaware to goe 
to ye Whore-Kill, there to keep a Court in his Ma'i'^s name, & to make 
inquiry of all Irregular Proceedings, & to settle the Go verm* and 
Officers there as formerly under his Ma^'^ Obedience, & the Pro- 
tection of his Royall Highness, for the W^h there shall likewise be 
sent particular instructions." 

The Dutch having retaken New Netherland there was 
Council held at New York September 12th, 1673, at which 
the Deputies from the South River appeared and presented 
their credentials. 

It was decided that "The court for New Amstel shall have 
jurisdiction over the inhabitants of the east and west side of 
Christina Kil as far as Boomtieshook" and "The court for 
the inhabitants of Hoere Kil, to have provisional jurisdiction 
over the people on the east and west side of Cape Hinlopen 
and northward to Boomties Hook." 

Pieter Alrigs was made Schout and Commander of the 
South River of New Netherland. 

Appointment of Magistrates for Horekil District: — 

"28. 9bre. His Honor the Governor, has selected, upon the 
nomination by the inhabitants of the Horekil, the following persons 
to be Magistrates there for the next year: 

"Mr. Harmanus Wiltbank 

"Sander Maelsteyn 

"Doctor Jan Roots (Rhoades) 

"Willem Claessen." 

The Dutch having ceded New Netherland to the English, 
Governor Andross issues an order November 2d, 1674, for 
the reinstatement of all officers who were in the English 
service before the occupation by the Dutch, "Excepting 
Peter Alrick, the BaylifEe, he having proferrd himself to ye 
Dutch at their first coming, of his own Motion and acted 
very violently (as their cheife Officer) ever since." 

Commissioners of the Colonic on the South River to the 
Burgomasters of Amsterdam, 1663. 

"Your Worships will also please give orders about maintaining 
possession of Ciconicing or Whorekil, inasmuch as by the discharge 
of the soldiers, it runs the risk of being occupied by the English, 



12 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

since it is very fertile and well prepared land, and lies on the sea 
at the mouth of the river." 

J. Alrichs writing from New Amstel, August 16th, 1659, 
to Amsterdam, says: 

"A new fortification and settlement were made at the Whore 
or Sickoneysincks Kil, which have been daily visited. 

"In respect to the 3 persons sent as Councillors, the first hath 
asked for and obtained his discharge; the third, who was Commis- 
sary, is dead, and his place still vacant. 

"The second should command at the Sickoneysincks Kil, in order 
to establish possession and government firmly there." 

Letter. 
Helmer Wiltbank to Governor Andros; Lord Baltimore 
about to renew his claim. Rebellion in Virginia. 

" RiCHT HoNOBLE GoVERNEUR,' — Yours receaved the 18th of this 
Instand month wear in wy understand your great Cear & diligenth 
of us wich my durender to your Honor menny tanks wear in wy doe 
inform your Honor that wy ar in good Halt Lickwise thear is good 
Hops of success & situatie of this plaets by menny persons both out 
of Virginnia & Merryland & heave also reseaved ohn halfe barrel of 
powder which youe thet sent by your schaloop & given alsoo menny 
tanks to your Honor for your good instruction and schal mack as 
good jus af them as possibelly Lays in our pour & Schayl how that 
your Honor thet deseir af occasion thet requeir a piloot for your 
Honors Schaloop; thear was non keapabele her & your Honors 
Schaloop meester thet not much question his gohin well. 

Wy doe hereafulger raport from the Commun people in Merry- 
landt that the Lord Baltomore thus ar immagine to Heave this pleats 
again but wy doe wenset & wy thacht fit to give your Honor notis 
af at. 

Lickewise her is dayly severale persons Cummin out of Virginia 
which brings news that the rebellion thus Continue still against thear 
gouverneur & gouverment & Lick to be wors which is a great dis- 
hartening to all payes & sober meyndeth people. Not else but your 
Honors servant to Commaund & pray for your Honors good helt & 
success in your gouverment. "Helms Wiltbank. 

" 167f this 26th of February at the Whorekil. 

"Her is prsent news out of Accumacke that ther is twoo fregats is 
Com in & that the heave brought the Contre to a pays again & moor 
thy my Lord Baltomore heave gott a grant from his Majesty fors is 
land & that the seam scud follow fourtnight after the fregats thet 
seth outh. 

"These for the right Honoble Gouverneur Ed. Androsz at New 
York." 

At a Special Court held at Horekil, March 19th, 167f, 
Mr. Helm. Wiltbank, Mr. Edwd. Southrin, Capt. Paul Marsh, 
Mr. Alex. Molestine, and Mr. John King, Justices, being 



CIVIL RECORDS. 13 

present, John Stevens petitoined for a resurvey of some land he 
had purchased from WiUiam Willoughby and Robert Dicks. 

At a Court held May 14th, 1677, William Planer for con- 
firmation of title to land on Slater Creeks claimed by Randell 
Revell. 

A letter from John Audrey, the Horekil, September 10th, 
1677, to Governor Andros: 

"My Lord: — I Am At present in A very weeke Condishion And 
have not ben out of my hous this siks wekes having And still have a 
fever Every Day In as much I cannot goo on hundred yardes from my 
hous If it would save my life. 

"The hoU pepell of the plas knows it your owner knows the thing 
That I am broute Thether Is nothing Consernin me but It hes be- 
tween Peter Groondike And docter Smith And AUsoo what I did was 
to the best of my knowledg not having and consenting with on of 
them mor then the other soo humbelly Craven your owner to Conider 
my Condishon I shall Ever Remain your owners most humble servant. 

"John Audrey. 

"My Lord: — The intent of Mister Smith was to have Com with me 
in my boat And had it not ben for Mr. Helmanus Willbank for he 
toulld me he was intended to Com to the falls in his own boat which 
was the occashun I Left him be hind me. "John Audrey." 

Helmer Wiltbank to Governor Andros. 

"Whoorekill Sept. 18. 1677. 

"Honorable Sir: Whereas by accidentiall of sum sickness of 
body by feavor & ague and Lameness of my one Legg Cannot by no 
possibility appear at the High Court of assize please yor Honor to 
pardon mee. 

"Have but this onely to say for my selfs that up the Relacions of 
Peter Groenendike in the matters between the sd Groenendike & 
Henry Smit I apprehend & understood at that time with rest of the 
Jury buth Groenendike afterwards goth Abraham Clement with a 
petition that wy migt Recalle our verdict & Groenendike spoocke 
himself to mee sum time whit treatning that the Jury hath given his 
monny away & further sayeth that of so bey wy would petition to 
the Court I may have Rehearing this would bee the easiest way and 
the least Chardge & so I tocht the Jury may have him done wrang 
not noying & of soo bie the Court would give rehearing what is that 
to the Jury being from thear oath & the writtens out of thare aknowl- 
edge which being to mee understanding to have Rehearing on a Re- 
examination as being not perfect to Distinguish the Circumstanges 
of many English woords or speaches by which Referr myselfs unto 
yor Honor favor, futher acquainting yor Honor of one Major John 
West out of Accumacks in Virginia whom hath writ unto mee about 
a Considerable quantity of Land for himselfs & sum partners of him 
which Land being Just to the Northward of the supposed Cabo 
Hinlopen seperating itself from itselfs from the sd Cape with one 
Inlett and a Creeke Comly called by the Indians Assawarnon the 



14 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. . 

which I have mentioned unto your Honor In my former Lettr that 
they of Merrylandt have made sum certaine survays by thiere 
prtended Right, the which sd Land the sd Major West affirnies by his 
Lettr to settle Immediately In his R. H. right soe he the sd Major 
West may obtaine good Incorredgement and bee protected by yor 
Honor hee being a very able prson with a vast Estate to which End 
I have answered his lines that what soever previledges & Incorredge- 
ment might or could be Expected from yor Honor should not bee 
wanting therefor of yor Honor pleased to Express any particulars 
in such a Conceme to setle the utmost bounds and Limitts of the 
government Refer the same unto yor Honors wisedome & discretion, 
otherwise it is lukly to be settled by them of Merryland these winter 
as far as I Can understand. 

"One favor shall request of yor Honor that whereas it was your 
Honors pleasure the last yeare to depute mee for one of the Magis- 
trates for these partes which now the time of Limitation thereof 
being Expired therefore hereby begg yor Honor may be pleased to 
discharge mee by Writ of Ease shall Humbly thank yor Honor for 
the same Being but little leamet and weak of apprehension & under- 
standing of the Lawes; have no more at prsent to acquaint yor 
Honor onely take leafe to Conclude & Remaine with all due Love & 
Respect 

"Your Honrs humble Servant to Command 

"Helms. Wiltbank." 

Wiltbank and the other Magistrates to Governor Andros 
November 13th, 1677. "A petition from Thomas Well- 
burne, merchant, In behalfe of himself and partners and 
William Anderson of Accomack County Virginia." 

These petitioners had had their land surveyed by Cor- 
nelius Verhoofe; Verhoofe sent the certificates to Captain 
Edward Cantwell, General Surveyor, to register and sign. 
Cantwell erased the names of the lawful owners of the grants, 
Welburn and others, and substituted names of his. Cant- 
well's, friends, Henry Streeter and Abraham Clements. 

Civil and Military Appointments for Horekil. 
November, 1674. 

Capt. paull Mash, Lieut & prsident of the Court; 

Mr. Helmanus Wiltbanck, Justice, Sheriffe & Collectr; 

Mr. Alexander Molestede, Justice; 

Mr. John Kipharen, Justice; 

Mr. Otto Wolgast, Justice; 

Mx. Daniell Browne under Sheriff & Constable. 

167S, June 25. 

Mr. John Avery, Lieut, & prsident of the Court ; 
; Mr. Edward Southrin, Justice. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 15 

"At a Court held for the Whorekill The 11th day of June 1678. 
Mr. Helms. Wiltbanck: Concerned 

"Com: Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Alex. Molestine, Mr. Edward Southrin, 
Mr. John Roades, Present. Concerned. 

"John Roads Pit, Helms Wiltbank Deft. 

"By reason of the Death of Mr. John Backstead & Absence of 
Capt. Paul Marsh there was not magistrs for a Court, therefore by 
Consent of both parties & the magistrs it is Referred to the next 
Genii Assizes at New York for tryall. 
"Vera Copia. 

"Test. CoRNELis Verhoofe CI. Co. Whorekill." 

More trouble with Avery. Letter to Governor Andros. 

"Whoorekill ye 30th June 1679 

"HoNNORED Sr: — Yor Honnor hath beene pleased to Joyne mee 
in Commission with others As a Magistrate for this County, which 
I have ever sence bene both willing and radye to sarve you and my 
Countrey to the best of my Judgement and having that Trust reposed 
in me I Looke upon myself oblidged to Inform your Honnor of sue 
miscariges and misdemeanors as happen or fall out that cannot be 
rectified here; And that is the Grose Abusses that hath bene com- 
mitted by Capt John Avery presedent of this Cort. both relating to 
the Trust reposed in him and otherways. 

"1st. That when the rest of the Magistrates could not consent to 
doe and determaine things as he would have it; Contrary to our 
Judgement he have in greate Rage and feury went out of Court Curs- 
ing and swaring, Calling of the rest of the Court ffooles. Knaves and 
Rouges; wishing that if ever he satt amongst us againe, that the 
devil might com and fetch him away, and also threeting and prently 
after did strik one of the Magistrates with his Kane, and had he not 
bene prevented by the spectatours, might a done much damage that 
way. 

"2 Hee Tooke upon himself to Marry the widdow Clament to one 
Bryant Rowles, without publiquecation notwithstanding she was 
out aske at least a Month to another man, namly Edward Cocke; 
The which when the said Cocke hard that she marryed to another 
man said that it would be his death And presently went home fell 
sick and in forty eight hours dyed; he left it on his death that her 
marrying was the cause of his dyeing. 

"3d Hee took upon him to grant a Licence to Marry Daniel Browne 
to Susan Garland widdow, without any publiquecation, which Mar- 
rige was effected, notwithstanding it is Generally knowne or at Least 
the said Daniel confesses that he knows no other but that he have a 
wife living in England. 

"4thly One Judith the wife of Thomas Davids being subspected 
to have stoole sume goods from severall persions the goods being 
found in her Custidy was held in examination by me and at ffirst she 
did Confidently Affirm that she brought the sd. goods out of Mary 
Land and that thay ware hur owne Lawfull goods, but well knowing 
that it would be proved otherwise, did soone Confess that she did 
steale them and from whom, upon hur Confession made hur * * * 



16 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

and Commited hur to the Custidy of the Constable till the next Court 
then following; but soon after Capt. Avery sent a noote by hur Hus- 
band to the Cunstable requiring him to give hur hur Libierty threeten- 
ing both me that had Commited hur and the Cunstable that did 
detaine hur soe that the Cunstable being subprised with fear did 
discharge hur out of his Custidy. 

" In short he the said Capt. Avery is an Incouriger and upholder of 
Dronkingnes Theeft Cursing, swaring, and flighting to the Affrighting, 
Amazing, and Terifienge of his Majties quiet and peacable subjects: 
Whoes grose weelkedness and Unhuman conversation, if a timely 
stop be not put to it, may justly be expexted to bring downe Gods 
Heavey Judgment upon this place. 

"Sthly. I goeing into the house of Helmanus Wiltbank on the 
fifteenth day of this Instant June being the Lords day whare the 
said Capt. Avery was drounk, whoe soone after brooke out in a greate 
Rage and feurey (without any provocation) Calling me beagerly 
Rouge and theefe with many more refiexting speachess, saying that 
he would prove me Rouge and Theefe and that I was not worth one 
grot. I did till him that if he would not give me satisfaction for the 
Abusse he had Cast upon me that I would sue him, To which hee 
replyed, The he would faine see any Magistrate, that would dare to signe 
a warrant or sumeance Against him, And that what he had said he 
would not be accountable to any Court, but onely to the Governor 
and that he is above any power here; soe that the other Commis- 
oners have Refeused to to signe a sumeance Against him: he Curses 
and swares at such A rate, that he if rights all others from doeinge 
any thing in order to bringing him to Justice, &c &c &c 

"Your Honnors Obedeant and ffaithful Servant 

Luke Wattson.'' 

" At a Court held for the Whorekill, July 12,1679. 
" (Capt John Avery) 

"Comrs: Mr. Francis WhitVell, Mr. Alex Molestine, Mr. 
John Kipshaven, Mr. Luke Wattson, Mr. John Roades, Mr. 
James Wells, Prsent. 

"John Richardson petitioner. 

"Whereas the petitioner hath made Appeale By the Evi- 
dence of John Bridgs there unto sworne and Mr. Francis 
Whitwell Confirming the same that hee the said petitionr 
was by his Tenant Thomas Crompton the first Setler In Build- 
ing Clearing and manuering the said Land according by a 
Certificate Bearing Date July 18, 1676. The said tenant 
Silently Departed by which one John Stevens or his order 
having taken possession of the said house & Land which said 
Clayme and possession taken by said John Stevens, Doth not 
as yet Appeare to the Court to bee the said Stevens his Just 
Rights &c. 

"CoRNELis Verhoofe CI. Co. WhorekiU. " 



CIVIL RECORDS. 17 

At a meeting of the Court July 2Sth, 1679, the above de- 
cision was reversed and John Stevens was put in possession 
of the land. In 1676, August 18, John Richardson and 
Thomas Crumpton, of Dorchester County, Maryland, had en- 
tered into an agreement about a piece of land on the West 
side of Delaware Bay called Duck or Duke Creek. 

In 1678, Captain Nathaniel Walker, had had a grant of 
six hundred and eighty acres at a place called Cedar Neck, 
between "Rehobah Bay and the Indyan Inlett to the South- 
ward." 

Secretary Matthias Nicolls wrote to Captain Avery, 1679, 
to see to it "that Capt. Walker may no longer bee delayed, 
about his patent." j 

The decision of the Court in giving John Stevens posses- 
sion of lands in dispute does not seem to have satisfied 
Stevens, for we find September 10th, 1679, that he had 
written to Edmund Cantwell, at New Castle, asking whether 
Cantwell have authorized one Thomas Phillips to grant war- 
rants for land. 

Cantwell said that he had not and he did not give John 
Richards or Richardson a warrant for more than three 
hundred acres of land. Cantwell had only seen Richards 
or Richardson once at the house of John Edwardson in 
Chaptonke. 

Richards used both names Richards and Richardson. 

John Stevens was living on Thomas Crompton's land 
July 7th, 1677. 

"Commission to the Justices at ye Whorekill Oct. 8, 1678: 
John Avery, ffrancis Whitwell, Alexander Molestein, John 
Kippshaven, Luke Wattson, John Roades, James Wells." 

October 30th, the Court at Whorekill granted a piece of 
land to Walter Dickeson. The land was on St. Jones' Creek. 

John Stevens has more trouble, having ejected one John 
Glover. 

Griffith Jones was attorney for Glover and on the twenty- 
sixth day of January, 1678, had made a deed for the land 
from John Richardson of Dorchester Co. to the said Glover. 
Samuel Styles had formerly lived on the place. 

The case was tried February 10th, 11th, 12th, 16ff. 

The pannell of ye Jury: — Mr. Edward Southrin, Samuell 
Gray, Otto Wolgart, Helms Wiltbanck, Daniell Browne, 
George Young, William Firtcher, John Hackister, Richard 
Levick, Charles Johnson, Richard Peaty, Thomas Howard. 



18 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

A copy of a land warrant dated July 18th, 1676, and signed 
by Thomas Phillips, Deputy Surveyor, read as follows: — 

"Laid out for me John Richardson and James Shackleday & John 
Richardson Senor a tract of land &c. 

"The Deposicon of William Watson aged 34 yeares or there abouts 
Sayth yt in ye yeare 1676 Sometime in ye month of August or there- 
aboute he came in companey of Jno Richardson to Thomas Phillips his 
house wth some others and ye sd Thomas Phillips Jno Richardson & 
others did goe to ye branches of Duck Creeke and there did see a 
howse upon a branch side and ye Thomas Phillips and Jno Richardson 
did say yt hee ye sd Jno. Richardson did build ye same &c &c. 

"Sworn in open Court December 10, 1679. 

"Christopher Jackson aged 30 year. Edward Ryan aged 36 years 
and Peter Bawcombe. 

"The last one, Bawcombe heard Robert Dick and William Wil- 
loughby say that they Never would come up to seate their land if they 
could have given all ye land in thes parts for ye Plague and trouble of 
ye muscitesh and would sell their land to yor Depont for a pr of 
shoos apeece." 

Census For Cedar Creek, 1680. 
Robt Hart, 3 in family-; 

upon Joseph Cowdree plantation, 3 in family; 
Mr. Bowman, 2 or 3 in family; 
George Collens, on Shackelys plantation; 
Jno Curtis, 4 in family; 
Jno Richardson, 6 in family; 
Thomas Groves, 2 in family; 
Thomas Heiffer, 2 in family; 
Alexander Ray, 2 in family; 
Thomas WiUiams and John DeShaw, 2 in family. 

At a Court held at Horekil, June 7-18, 1680. 

Walter Dickson (Dickinson) pit., Barnard Hodges deft. 

"Samwell Stiles aged 44 deposed that John Richardson 
came with severall other persons to the house, that John 
Stevens seated him upon neare Lettle Creeke in the Whoore- 
kill precents; and demanded him to give the sd Richardson 
possession of the howse and Land &c. Verdict for the 
Plaintiff." 

Luke Watson, John Roades, John Kipphaven, William 
Clark, and Otto Wolgart, Magistrates, to Gov. Andros re- 
lative to a Prison and Court House, Surveys and Settling 
of Land. 

"HoNORBLE Governor: The commission wee have received And 
in obedeance there unto have proceeded &c. whereas there have 



CIVIL RECORDS. 19 

heatherto bene a neglect in geting A prison here; for want of which 
there have bene not long sence a prisoner for debt, whoe was A stranger 
made his Escape; which may prove damage either to the County 
or Sherife; for the preventing of the Uke for the f utter: we have 
ordered A prisson stocks and wheeping post, forth with to be built, 
which will cost between three or four thousand pounds of tobacco; 
here is also a greate want of a Court house, which will cost five thou- 
sand pounds of Tobacco; our request is that thee will be pleased to 
Impower us to make a Tax; to Leavy the same on the Inhabitants; 
There was sume Certain Land formerly laid out by Capt Cantwell 
for a Towne; which was to be devided into Lots of 60 foot in breadth 
and 200 foot in Leingth; and the Land and woods that lye back was 
to be common; for food for cattle and firwood, it being in all about 
130 Acres of Land; Sence which time Arrnainas Wiltbank have got 
the said land survayed; but we doe not understand that he have 
any pattent for it; hee demands a bushell of winter wheat a yeare 
of any person that shall build upon the said Towne lots; which is 
soe high a rent that it gives noe Incouragement for any to build; we 
should think one-halfe of that rent would bee anouffe; but that we 
leave to thy ordering and to whom the rent shall be paid; whether 
to the duke of York or to Armianas Wiltbank; here is a greate marsh 
that lyes at the north west side of the Towne, which if it should be 
at any time here after taken up by any perticolar person it would 
be a great Inconvenancy to those that doe or shall here after live 
here; as also the Cape, whare there is good pin Trees for building; 
the Land Lettes worth; both which wee desier may Lye in common 
for the use of the Towne; It hath bene spoake here as if thee ded 
intend as an Ease to the Court to Impower the survayor to grant 
warrants to Lay out land to such persons as shall Come to take it 
up; But wee being senceable of the 111 Consequence that will attend 
that, doe desier that thee would be pleased to forbear giving him 
any such power; for our precents is now but small; And he for the 
Lucker of geting the more money will lay out such Large tracts of 
land for a perticolar person, that might sarve many famileys to live 
Comfortably upon; theare have been Expearance of the like; As 
when Capt. Cantwell had the same power he survayed Three Thou- 
sand Acres of princable land at prime hook for Henry Smith; And 
others of the like nature might be mentioned; And wee have good 
cause to resolve for the time to Come to grant less Tracts of Land 
to perticolar persons then have been formerly granted; for this County 
as it is now divided is not above halfe soe big or Large as St Jones; 
nor will not hold halfe so many people; neither is the Land soe gen- 
erally good as that is; And this being the Anciantest place wee thinke 
with submission might a bene continowed at least Equil with the 
others; which if thee please may be redressed in the next commis- 
sion or sooner, which may be by deviding by Murther Creeke and 
soe downe wards; when Capt Avery was in commission he ded pe- 
tition the Court for three Thousand Acres of Land for three persons 
living in Acomack, which the court ded grant to be taken up in any 
part of these precents that was not allready survayed and taken up; 
sence which Cornelous Verhoofe have at the request and procure- 
ment of the said Captain Avery and one of the three persons of Aco- 
mack survayed and Laid out the said three Thousand Acres of land 



20 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

at prime Hook; most of it being the land that was taken up and 
seated by Henry Smith; now, wheather or noe thee will Allow the 
said Henry Smith the three Thousand Acres of land by him taken 
up and seated; wee doe not in the least dispute; But how ever wee 
humbly conceaye that no part of it ought to a bene survayed for any 
person what soever without a speacell warrant obtayned from thy 
Honr; It hath bene too much in use here for sume persons to sail 
land before they make any plantation or Settlement thereon Es- 
peacally by Capt Avery, who have-sold severall parcells of land; by 
which he have gotten greate quantitys of Tobacco; wee would bee 
willing to have thy positive order as to that Concerne; whether thee 
allow of such things or not; Thee were pleased to send a Caske of 
powder heather for the service of this place; which powder hath 
bene all sold and Imbarseled away by Capt. John Avery to the Ind- 
ians and others, and if there should be an occasion for powder here, 
there is not any to be got here for money. 

" Wee having as in duty bound laid these things before thee, doe 
deseir that thee will be please to give such order and direxions therein 
as in thy greate wisdome shall seeme most meete; the which wee 
shall bee rady to observe and follow &c. 

■'True Servants." 

When the above letter was written the County of St. Jones, 
now Kent, had been taken from the Whore kil, leaving the 
Whore Kil thirty miles long and twelve to fourteen 
miles wide. 

The Courts were still held at the Whore Kill, now Lewes, 
and the people for St. Jones County had to bring all their 
legal matters to the above Court. It would be bad enough 
now for the people of Kent Co. to have to attend the Court 
at Lewes, but it was far worse in that day. 

They petitioned the Governor, "Sr. Edmond Andros, 
Knt Seigneur of Sausmarez, Lt. and Governor Generall 
under his Royal Highness James Duke of York," as follows: — 

"Wee whose names are hereunto subscribed living and ambitious 
to abide under the sunshine of yor Honrs Govermt Inhabiteinge in 
the upland part of the Whorekill County. 

"In all humble manner shew unto yor Honor the great greivances. 
Hazards and perills both by land and water that wee undergoe in goeing 
to the Whorekill Court nott onely the distance being to some of us 
50 some 60 miles want of Comodacons of man and beast there, butt the 
unpassable dangerous waies by reason of perillous Creeks which many 
tymes cannot bee past over by man or beast the hazardous large 
Marshes and myreous and difficult branches &c. 

Yor Honor will be graciously to order authorize &c a Court to be 
held in some convenient place in St Jones Creeke &c that all persons 
Inhabiteinge from the North side of Cedar Creeke to the South side of 
Blackbird Creeke be ordered &c and deemed within the Jurisdiction 
of the said Court &c &c. 



CIVIL RECORDS 



21 



" And wee as in duty bound shall ever pray for Yor Honors health 
and happiness That Age may Crowne your Snowy haires with Cesar's 
Honors and with Nestor's yeares. 



Grifi Jones 
John Glovear 
Robert Porter 
Arthur Alstone 
Henery Plomer 
Robert Millen 
William Millen 
John Dawson 
Henry H. Stevens 
John hilard 
Richard Griffin 
John R. Richeson 
Robt. R Pernatry 

marke 
John Rechardson Jr 
A. Alston 
ffran. Whitwell 
Petter Bawcom 



John Walker 
Walter M Powel 
George Martens 
Jafeth N Goesen 
Isaac Balsch (?) 
Thomas Bolsticke 
Simon Frounsen 
John Brigs 
William Berry Jr 
John Lloyd 
John C Barrett 
his marke 
John Barton 
Daniel Jones 
Wm W 



Wm. 

Robt ffran ces 
Alexander Humphrey 
John Brinklo 
Gabriel Jonses 
Christopher Jecsons 
David Margin 
Abram brate 
Isack Webe 
John Webster 
Thomas Heffer 
AUesxander Raey 
William Spartes 
Thomas Cliford 
John Getes 
Robert bedewel 
Richard Louicks 
John Cortes 
Thomas William 
Thomas Grover 
Thomas Hill 
Jno. Haye 



Eauan Dause 

John Conely 

Ed Prince 
John Baswell B his marke Jno. Dishaa 
Daniell Arnestead Benoni Barnes 

E. Pack L. Orema 

Robert Johnson 

The shipe goeing away wee had nott time to gitt ye rest of there names 
butt wee think there may bee about 100 tithabel. 

A notice dated June 21st, 1681, was sent from New York to 
the Justices, &c., residing in the New Province of Pennsylva- 
nia, releasing them from their allegiance to the Duke of York. 

An order from New York, dated August ISth, 1681, di- 
rected the Magistrates at Deale, alias Horekil, Del., to search 
for the records, retained by Cornelis Verhoofe, the former 
clerk. 

Verhoofe had been dismissed for various misdemeanors 
and he refused to turn over the records to William Clarke 
who was appointed to succeed him. By an order dated New 
York, November 21st, 1682, the "Magistrates and other 
ofi&cers att New Castle St Jones Deale als Whore kill att 
Delaware" were notified to "Submitt and Yeald all due 
obedience and Conformity to the Powers Granted to the 
said William Penn." 

This separates the three counties from New York and 
annexes them to Pennsylvania. 

Settled by the Dutch, captured by the Swedes, recaptured 
by the Dutch, captured by the English, recaptured by the 
Dutch, ceded to the English as a part of New Netherland, 



22 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

separated from New York and annexed to Pennsylvania 
all in the space of fifty years. 

Perhaps the people of Delaware were getting very tired 
with the many changes and had quite made up their minds 
to run the State or three Lower Counties, as an independent 
body. 

At a "Councell of the Province of Pensilvania, and Terri- 
tories Thereunto belonging" held at Philadelphia March 
10th, 1682, John Vines who had been Sheriff before the 
Hore Kil or Deal had changed hands is reappointed "Sherif 
of the County of Sussex." The name of the County is changed 
to its present title. The members of the Assembly from 
Sussex County were William Firtcher, John Kipshaven, 
Alexander Molestine, Robert Bracy, Senior Thomas Bracy, 
John Hart, John Clowes, Luke Watson and Cornelius Ver- 
hoofe, &c. There were " 12 Deligates out of each County 
with power to act as the Provinciall Councelours & General 
Assembly, and it being proposed to the elected members 
aforesaid if they were chosen to serve in both those capacities, 
they answered they were; That is to say, three of each 
Twelve for the Provinciall Councill, and the remaining Nine 
of each Twelve to constitute the General Assembly." March 
29th, 1683, William Clarke represented Sussex County in 
the Council and Luke Watson in the Assembly. There was 
an appeal from a decision of the Sussex County Court at 
this Council; John Bellamy, plaintiff, and Luke Watson, 
defendant. 

It was about land at Prime Hook bought by defendant 
from Captain Henry Smith. It was ordered that "the plain- 
tiff pay to the defendant for his improvements, &c., adjudge 
by three Commissioners appointed by this board, Jno. 
Roads, Robt. Brasey and Alexander Draper of the said 
County, or any two of them." 

As Bellamy had not paid for any part of the improve- 
ments October 27th, 1683, the Council order "ye said Luke 
Watson, do Peacebly Enjoy the sayd Plantation till ye said 
John Bellamy hath payd or given sufficient Security to pay 
the same." 

The Council sent two letters to Kent and Sussex concern- 
ing the meeting of the General Assembly to be held at New 
Castle, May 10th, 1684. 

At a Council held at Sussex August 14th, 1684, Luke 
Watson and John Bellamy agreed before "ye Govr & Councill 



CIVIL RECORDS. 23 

as followed' ' Luke to continue upon the three hundred 
acres at Prime Hook, "whereon are his improvements, 
together with the 200 acres adjoining thereto * * * 
John Bellamy to have 457 Acres as p. Pattent, being for- 
merly the lands of One Wm Canes, and seated by 

Prentice." 

At a meeting of the Council in Philadelphia, September 
28th, 1685, Philip Russell was granted a "Lycense" to keep 
an Ordinary or Inn at Lewis. 

This Inn was located at the South corner of Mulberry or 
Knitting St. and Second St. The house is still standing and 
is occupied by the widow of the late Charles Marshall. John 
Hill was made Sheriff January 9th, 1685, and Henry Bow- 
man was made Ranger for the County of Sussex. Joshua 
Barkstead was appointed "Atturney Genall for ye County 
Sussex," April 9th, 1686. 

In 1686 Luke Watson was notified by the Assembly "to 
forbear to give his attendance until further Order." Luke 
had threatened the life of his brother-in-law, Henry Smith, 
and the Council thought best to exclude Luke until the mat- 
ter was looked into. 

Henry Bowman came before the Council May 12th, 1686, 
and declared that "Luke Watson's Brother-in-law (one 
Smith) told him yt the Difference between him & Luke 
Watson was ended." 

John Roades kept an Ordinary in Sussex County, 1686. 
The same year William Clark was elected to serve in Council 
for the next three years ; Samll Gray, John Vines, Hen Bow- 
man, Norton Claypoole, Albert Jacobs, Hen Stricher, for the 
Assembly. 

August 5th, 1686, at the Council Room in ' Philadelphia 
Justices Commission "be fortwith drawn to Commissionate 
Wm Clarke, Jno. Roads, Tho. Langhorne, Tho. Price, Robt 
Clifton, Samll Gray & George Young." 

March 31st, 1687, Major William Dyer* presented his 
credentials as member of the Council from Sussex County. 

"The Councill Expressed their Genii Dissatisfaction and 
unwillingness to permitt him, and Desired to Desist, Declare- 
ing yt they Could not in Duty and Respect to ye King, nor 
with Security to ye Province, take such into ye Councill 
who had not discharged the Office of ye Kings CoUr of his 

* Son of Mary Dyer of Boston. 



24 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Customs within this Governmt with faithfulness and a good 
Report." 

John Redwood presented a petition to the Council, May 
18th, 1687, asking "for Releef against an Execution Sur- 
reptitiously obtained against him at ye Sute of Richard 
Hogbean at ye County Court of Philadelphia." Council 
ordered as follows: Redwood was "to give Security to pay 
ye Debt in Sussex County, where the Creditor lives, &c. 
Therefore this board's Opinion is, that ye Creditor Richd. 
Hoggbean's behaviour in this is Litigious and Vexatious." 

March 31st, 1688, Luke Watson "Presented himselfe as a 
member of Councill, Chosen ye last Election, for ye County of 
Sussex, but no Returne being made Could not be admitted." 

"The Complaint of ye Major part of ye free-holders 
of Sussex County against ye Sheriff, for not returning a 
Member they had Chosen to serve in Provll Council," was 
read. 

John Hill presenting "ye Complaint" was Called in, and 
answer given him that it "should have a Due Consideration, 
and Justice Don to ye County." 

"Orded That franc Cornwell, Sheriff of Sussex County, 
be Orded to appear before ye Govr and Council ye same day 
ye next Genii Assembly is to meet, to answer ye Complaint 
above." 

The minutes of the Assembly for April 10th, 1688, say 
"The Returne of ye members for Sussex County was Read 
and allowed." 

Adam Johnson appealed to the Council February 19th, 
168f, for protection against Peter Ludgar. Peter has been 
arrested, tried and imprisoned for theft and the Sheriff had 
allowed him to be at liberty. "The Sheriff ffrancis Corne- 
well to forthwith apprehend the prisoner and keep him in 
the Common Gaol or Workhouse of the County." 

Francis and William Smith were ordered to be imprisoned, 
also, for a debt due Charles Pickering. They complained 
"that there was no bed lye on." The Sheriff acquainted 
the Board that he might bring in his beds to the prison, and 
should have them again when discharged. 

November 2d, 1689. The Council sent copies of the proc- 
lamation declaring William and Mary to be King and Queen 
of England. 

Thomas Clifton was returned as member of the Provincial 
Council 1690, to serve three years. Eight months later 



CIVIL RECORDS. 2 5 

(he was elected in March), Thomas "was gon to England" 
and they had to have another election. 

Let us go back to 1689. The Court sitting at Lewes, 
June Sth, of that year, has left us the following record: — 

"The Court considering what few inhabitants there is in the town 
of Lewes, and being willing to Incurage people to live in the said 
Town and to seat and improve the back part of the said Town are 
willing to grant Larger Lotts then hath been usually granted, and 
for that the clearing the back parts of the said Town, will be cove- 
nant and benefic all to bring a vew to the front of the said Town, 
they do order that whosoever shall take up any back Lotts, shall 
not suffer any Tree or Trees to grow thereon to the hight of Twenty 
feet, and whosoever plants any frute Trees, or other Trees thereon, 
shall not plant them nearer than forty feet asunder, and keep their 
Lotts Continually Clean of brush or other wood, and also to keep 
the Streets afore their Lotts Clean of brush, and all the trees in the 
Streets to be grubed up, the said back Lotts to be four acre Lotts, 
with a square in the middle of the Town, for any publick use or uses 
that the Court shall think fitting, the pond on the backide of Author 
Starr's to be dreaned and remain for Common to Come down the 
Valley, the where the Ship is building into the River Lewes, and 
that he builds and Clears first shall have the first Lotts next to the 
Town." 

The "Valley" is now Camomile Street, and where the 
ship was building is called Shipcarpenter Street. 

"A list of Several Receitels of Sundry Deeds Down from a 
patent granted by Sir Edmond Andross At New York unto Andrew 
Deprea for 400a of land Called Timber Neck Dated the 12th day of 
August A. D. 1679 or a breef State of the Title Down from the 
afores'd pattent To the Present owner of the said land posser of 
the same. 

"first Andrew Dupreas Patent of 400 acres of land granted by 
Sir Edmond Andross In New York bearing Date the 12 day of Aug- 
ust Anno Domini 1679. 

"2dly Andrew Deprea of the County of Sussex planter did con- 
vey by his Deed of Sale 400a of land unto John Deprea of the aforesd 
Cooper Dated the 13th day of the 12th month Called February the 
whole Tract 1682. 

"31y County Sussox. 

"James Askew did Convey by his Deed of Sale a 140a of land unto 
John Coe of the Same place a part of Timber Neeck a part of 400a 
of the within Tract Dated the 6 day of February 1698. 

"Sussex County. 

"John Coe Did by his Deed of Sale Convey a 140a of land unto 
Joseph niell now part of the within 400a of land Dated the 4 day of 
September 1699. 

"Edward Nixson of the County afors'd Did Convey by his 
Deed of Sale a 140a of land unto Sary Clifton widow of the Town of 
lewis & County afors'd part of aforsd Tract of 400a of land Dated 
the 20th day of July 1703. 



26 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

" And at the Death of Sary Clifton -widow of Lewis Town the 
aforsd 140 acres of land Decended unto her Son Robert Clifton as 
heir at law. 

"And whereas Robert Clifton Son of the aforsd widow Deceast 
did by his last will & Testament bearing Date the 10th day of May 
1720 Did order his Executors to Sell the Said land of 140a above s'd 
if Need bee who was John Foster & Ann his wife. 

"The abovesd John Deprea did leave & bequeath his last will and 
Testament the afores'd Tract of 400a of land unto his Two Sons to 
wit William & John Deprea dated 1 day of October 1706. 

"William Deprea and his mother mary deprea widow & Re- 
lockt of John Deprea deceast did Convey by there Deed of Sale 100a 
of land part of the abovesd 400a Tract of land unto Richard hinmon 
Esquire Dated th Sth day of May 1720. 

"C. Richard Hinmon did Convey by his deed of Sale 100a of land 
part of the abovesd 400a of land unto Peter marsh the grandfather 
of y Said Peter marsh dated the 7th day of August 1722. 

' ' John Foster of the aforsd County black Smith and Ann foster 
his wife executors of the last will & Testament of Robert Clifton of 
the Town of lewis & County afors'd did Covey by their deed of Sale 
a 140a of land unto Peter marsh of Rehoboth & County afors'd part 
of the aforsd 400a Tract of land dated the 14th day of October 1721. 

"County of Sommerset. 

"John Deprea of the Province of maryland planter did Convey 
by his deed of Sale a 160a of land unto Richard hinmon of the County 
of Sussex gentelman part of the Tract of 400a of land afors'd Dated 
6th day of August 1735. 

"And the afors'd Richard hinmon did by his last will & Testament 
bequeath unto his Two grand Sons to wit Hinmon Rhoades & John 
Rhoads the aboves'd 160a of land part of the aboves'd 400a of land 
dated 13 day of January 1741 and Hinmon Rhoads dying without 
Ishu the land fell to his younger brother John Rhoads And John 
Rhoads & his wif EUenor Rhoads by their deed of sale Conveys the 
aboves'd 160a of land or all the Residue of the afors'd Pattent of 
400a of land unto Peter marsh the younger now In the Possition of 
the same as by the Deed dated the 7th day of march 1769." 

Elon (Ellen) Hazzard's Will, Book D, No. 4, page 387. 
Date 9-7-1790, mentions her children Cord, David, James 
and John Hazzard, and speaks of her son Hinman Rhoads, 
and Grandson John Rhoads, and daughter Margaret Rhoads. 

As Elon (Ellen) died the widow of David Hazzard, she 
must have been the widow Rhoads when she married Haz- 
zard. 

September 23d, 1726. 

Complaint Against a Magistrate, 1726. 

"The Petition of Alexander JloUiston, most humblv sheweth, 

"Whereas your Petitioner begs leave to represent to your Honour 

a difference that did arise, together with the Judicial Proceedings 

thereon, (under the Administracon of Sr William Keith, our late 



CIVIL RECORDS. 27 

Govem'r) that happened between William Till, Esq., and your Peti- 
tioner; the Sum of the Difference, so far as I can impartially remem- 
ber, is briefly thus : 

" First. Your petitioner having a Sute Depending in the County 
Court for Sussex, Judgment passed against your Petitioner, Execu- 
tion immediately by my Antagonist was threatened. William Till, 
Esq., owing your Petitioner a small Debt on Account, going out of 
town. Your Petitioner went to said Till being on horse-back and call- 
ing him aside, asked him for the Debt, he rephed that if I would 
prove my Account he would pay it, and turned about & called to 
Simon KoUuck Esq., standing some Distance off, and desired Mr. 
KoUuck to answer so much on acct. to your Petitioner, which the 
said Mr. KoUuck promised to do. 

"WiUiam Till further proceeded and asked your Petitioner what 
Day of the Month it was, your Petitioner said, the Seventh, then 
repUed Mr. Till You must come to me for Licence or I will demolish 
your House. Your Petitioner made Answer that he would not go 
to the said Till for Licence, but go to his master, then William Till 
called yr. Petitioner Rogue and Rascal with other abuses and threat- 
ened to put your Petitioner in the Stocks, Your Petitioner bid him 
do if he dared, and further said he was neither Rogue nor Rascal 
any more than William Till, but was as honest a man as himself and 
so esteemed among my Neighbour. Then William Till called the Con- 
stable standing by, and commanded the Constable to put Your Peti- 
tioner in the Stocks; the Constable at the first not willing to answer 
his command. Then William Till again called the Constable and, 
and said, damn you. Dog, do your office or I will commit you, then 
the Constable followed your Petitioner as he was going home, and 
put your Petitioner in the Stocks, who there remained during the 
pleasure of the said William Till. Which Punishment together with 
the Infamy thereof, yr Petitioner (with humble Submission) doth 
conceive would have been a sufficient Atonement for such an offence, 
considering the cause thereof did arise from a Difference in their 
own private Affair; altho' whatever words might fall or escape from 
your Petitioners Lips, was caused by the rash Expressions and threat- 
ening Words of the said William Till, with out any Design or Affront 
to the person of the said Till, or the Commission that he bears, or 
any Disregard or Contempt in the least to ye Authority of our Sover- 
eign Lord the King. But yet the Punishment of your Petitioner 
for the aforesaid Offence did not cease there; but in a short time 
afterwards the said William Till came into Town and bound over 
your Petitioner by Recognizance to his good Behavior, without the 
Concurrence of any other Justice of the Peace, and when I demanded 
a copy of the said Recognizance, put it in his pocket, refusing either 
a Sight or a copy of it, — and then Your Petitioner desired of the said 
WilUam Till a Licence, but he would not give it to your Petitioner. 

"2d. And then contrary to an Act of Assembly of this Govern- 
ment, made against such as shall speak in Derogation of Courts, 
• write or speak slightingly of any Magistrate in the duty of his office, 
which provides that such Offendors shall be fined Fifty Shillings; 
On which said Act of Assembly, afterwards (To Wit) on the 3d Day 
of November, in the Year of our Lord 1724, at a Court of Quarter 
Sessions of our Lord the King, held at Lewis Town, before the Jus- 



28 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

tices of our Lord the King, an Information was exhibited in the said 
Term by Francis Allen especially appointed by the Justices aforesaid 
for that purpose to prosecute for our Lord the King, as by a Copy 
of the said Information duly certified may appear. On which Infor- 
mation it was so far proceeded, that your Petitioner was forced to 
plead thereto, and was destitute of Council, and could not get a Lawyer 
or Council to speak in your Petitioner's Behalf, and also threatened 
that if an Attorney should presume to appear in Behalf of your Pe- 
titioner he should be thrown over the Barr; whereon a verdict of 12 
Men did pass against your Petitioner and by the Justices aforesaid 
was fined in the sum of Twenty Pounds; and your Petitioner still 
being bound afresh finding good security for his Good Behavior, 
And tho' then your Petitioner for the aforesaid Time was not imme- 
diately committed to close prison, yet was desired by the sheriff not 
to go any great distance out of the County, but first acquaint him 
with it, and in this Circumstance yr Petitioner remained for the Space 
of about Nine Months, and then the aforesaid fine was levied by 
Execution on the House that yr Petitioner lived in; (As by a Tran- 
script of the Records of the proceedings thereof may also appear) 
to the most grievious Hurt and Damage of yr. Petitioner; Contrary to 
the aforesaid Act of Assembly, Your Petitioner was forced to plead to 
an Information illegally exhibited, and for an Offence which requires 
no such Proceeding, being not an Offence against the Government, 
but only a few Words in Passion, for which the Law makes another 
Provision by binding the Party to his good Behavior. So that yr. 
Petitioner was utterly deprived of his then calling and ever since 
in that capacity disabled in getting of his and his Family's Bread. 
And yr. Petitioner doth further beg your Honour's patience, to lay 
before your Honours another Grievience of yr. Petitioners which is 
thus: On the first Day of January, in the year 1724, in the absence 
of yr. Petitioner, the aforesaid William Till (by a pretext of a purchase 
which he said he made of three Bushels of Salt from one Abraham 
Depister, loged in your Petitioners Custody, and promised by ye 
Petitioners Wife to be delivered to the said William Till,) did obtain 
a warrant from Samuel Rowland Esq., one of his Majesty's Justices 
of the Peace for the County of Sussex aforesaid. By Virtue of said 
Warrant yr Petitioners Wife was brought before the said Samuel 
Rowland to answer the Premises, and Judgment was obtained against 
yr. Petitioners Wife without any Proof, altho' your Petitioners Wife 
offered to swear, and bring Evidence to prove, that she had not one 
Bushel of Salt of the said Abraham Depister's in her Custody; Yet 
notwithstanding, the Evidence was denyed and rejected and Execu- 
tion granted, by Virtue whereof the Constable, with several raised 
Men, in his Majestys Name, were ordered (with audible voice) to 
break open the doors of Your Petitioners House; on the hearing of 
this, your Petitioners family opened the Doors, and the Constable 
with the raised Men aforesaid, opened the Cellar Door, after that he 
was forewarned, and there did bear away three Bushels of Salt, with 
four & Six Pence of Yr. Petitioners Goods for the said William Till 
was extorted and taken away from yr. Petitioners Wife, When in 
Truth and in Fact, no such Salt was lodged in yr. Petitioners Cus- 
tody on that Account, nor did yr. Petitioners wife make any such 
Promise. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 29 

"And now since j'our Honours happy Arrival to this Goverment 
yr. Petitioner made application to the Court (for a Recommendation 
to yr. Honour in order to obtain a Licence from your Honour) which 
hapned in the absence of William Till Esq., the Court would not 
grant the aforesaid favor without the Concurrence of William Till, 
the said Justices producing this Reason, that they were certainly 
informed by William Till that the sd William Till did affirm to the 
Court aforesaid that he had received particular Instructions from 
yr. Honour that if I did not make my Application to the sd William 
Till and get him to sign my Recommendation that yr. Honour had 
promised him that yr. Petitioner never should have any Licence; 
Altho' his Majestys Justices did say they had nothing to alledge 
against me. 

"And tho' I have not enumerated all the Calamitys and Hard- 
ships that yr. Petitioner has sustained and laboured under in the 
course of the above said Proceeding, yr. Petitioner fearing to be too 
tedious, and that I have already trespassed on yr. Honours Patience, 
shall leave it. And humbly desire yr. Honour would be graciously 
pleased to take these things into yr. Honours Consideration & give 
me some Relief, as yr. Honour in yr. Wisdom shall judge meet. And 
yr. Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall ever pray, &c. 

"Alexander Molston." 

Civil and Military Appointments for Horekil. 

November, 1674. 

November, Capt. Paull Mash, Lieut, and president of the 
Court. 

Mr. Helmanus Wiltbank, Justice, SherifEe & Collector. 

Mr. Alexander Mosestede, Justice. 

Mr. John Kipharen, Justice. 

Mr. Otto Wolgast, Justice. 

Mr. Daniel Browne, under-SherifEe & Constable. 

1675, June 2Sth, 

Mr. John Avery, Lieut, and president of the Court. 

Mr. Edward Southrin, Justice. 

Mr. Alexander Molestede, Justice wish non abler. 

Mr. John Kiphaven, Justice, well to take. 

Mr. Otto Wolgast, Justice good ordinary planter. 

Mr. Daniel Browne, under-Sheriffe and Constable. 

Cornells Verhoofe, Clerke Deputy Survr. & Collectr. 

167f , January 4th, Mr. Daniel Browne being Discharged of 
the Constables office and Simon paling EUected. In the 
sd office. 

Dito: Jury of Inquest as followeth: — Hermanus Wiltbank, 
foreman; Abraham Clement, petit; John Collison ; William 
Prentice, Simon Paling, Robert Murdick 



30 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

List of the names of persons in Horekil: — Henry Smith, 
John Avery, Edward Southrin, John King, Pauell Mash, 
Sander MoUesten, Hermanes Wildbank, Thomas Phillips. 

In 1670, January 12th, James Mills purchased a neck of 
land from the English Commissioners by consent of the Gov- 
ernor at New York. It is described as " Eyeing to the South- 
ward of ye Towne at ye whorekill in Delaware Bay." 

There was a Council held in Fort James, New York, May 
17th, 1672, to consider the pretended claim of Lord Baltimore 
to the Whorekill. 

The first Court was established at the Hoour Kil in 1673. 
"And whereas it is necessary for the maintenance of good 
order, police, and so forth, that the inhabitants of the South 
river be provided with some courts of justice, we have 
therefore deemed it necessary to order and instruct the in- 
habitants of said river to nominate by plurality of votes, 
for each court, eight persons as Magistrates whose jurisdic- 
tion shall provisionally extend as follows : 

" One Court of Justice for New Amstel &c One Court of 
Justice for the inhabitants of Upland &c. 

"One Court of Justice for the inhabitants of the Whore- 
kil, to which shall provisionally resort, the inhabitants both 
on the East and West sides of Cape Hinloopen, unto Boom- 
ties Hook." 

The Governor selected as Magistrates, November 28th, 
1673, Mr. Harmanus Wiltbanck, Sander Maelsteyn, Doctor 
John Roots, William Claesen. These same magistrates 
were ordered to send " 2 millstones lying idle in the Whorekil 
which heretofore belonged to the city's colonic on South 
river" to New Amstel " as the garrison at New Amstel hath 
need of them." 

Letter from Halmanius Wiltbank to Governor Andros, 
Lord Baltimore about to renew his claim for the Hore Kil, 
and a rebellion in Virginia. 

"Richt Honoble Gouverneur: — Yours receaved the 18th of this 
Instand month wear in wy understand your great Gear & diligenth of 
us wich wy durender to your Honor manny tanks wear in wy doe 
inform your Honor that wy are in good Helt Lickewise thear is good 
Hops of success & situatie of this plaets by menny persons both out 
of Virginnia & Merryland & heaue alsso reseaved ohn halfe barrel 
of powder which youe thet sent by your schaloop & given alsso menny 
tanks to Your Honor ffor your good instruction and schal mack as 
good jus af them as possibelly Lays in our pour & Schal how that 
Your Honor thet deseir af occasion thet requeir a piloot for your 



CIVIL RECORDS. 31 

Honors Schaloop; thear was non keapabele her & Your Honors 
Schaloop meester thet not much question his gohin well 

"Wy doe hereafulger raport from the Commun people in Merry- 
landt that the Lord Baltomore thus are immagine to Heave this plaets 
again but wy doe wenset & wy thacht fit to give your Honor notis 
af at 

' ' Lickewise her is dayly severale persons Commin out Virginia 
which brings news that the rebellion thus Continue still against theare 
Gouvemeur & gouverment & Lick to be wors which is a great dis- 
hartening to all payes & sober meyndeth people 

"Not else but your Honors servant to Commaund & pray for 
your Honors good helt & success in your gouverment 

"1671 this 26th of February at the Whorekil 

"Helms Wilts anck 

"Her is prsent news out of Accumache that ther is twoo fregats 
is Com in & that the heave brought the Centre to a pays again & 
moor that my Lord Baltomore heave gott a grant from his Mastre 
fors is land & that the seam scud follow fourtnight after the fregats 
thet seth outh 

"These for the right Honoble Gouverneur Ed. Androsz at New 
York. " 

It is to be hoped that the Governor was not a profane man. 

In another letter dated Whoorekil, September 18th, 1677, 
from Halmanus Wiltbank to "Major Edmond Andros," 
he speaks of being too unwell to appear at the meeting of 
the High Court, he has fever and is lame in one leg. There 
was a case before the jury about Peter Groenendick and Henry 
Smit. The suit went against Groendick and he wanted 
Judge Wiltbank to have a rehearing of the case. 

Wiltbank speaks of not being "perfect to Distinguish the 
Circumstanges of many English woords or speaches by which 
Referr myself unto Yor Honors fauor." 

John West of Accomack County, Virginia, had written 
Wiltbank about getting a quantity of land for himself and 
"sum partners," "which Land being Just to the Northward 
of the supposed Cabo Hinlopen seperating itself from itself 
from the sd Cape with one Inlett & a Creeke Comly called 
by the Indians Assawarnon, &c." 

November 13th, 1677, Helm. Wiltbank, Edward Southrin 
and Alexander Molestine send a complaint and petition to 
Sr. Edmund Andros, charging Captain Ed. Cantwell, Sur- 
veyor, with erasing the names of Thomas Wellburne and his 
partners and the name of William Anderson from certificates 
for lands surveyed by Cornelius Verhoofe. 

Thomas Wellburne was a merchant; and all the parties 
petitioning were from Accomac County, Va Cantwell erased 



32 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

the names of Wellburne and partners and wrote his own 
name in place of erasure together with Henry Streeter and 
Abraham Clements. In place of William Anderson's name 
he put the names of Samuel Styles and Robert Anderson. 
Wellburne had named his tract Welburne's Wilderness, and 
Anderson called his place Anderson's Delight. 

Commission of Captain John Avery to be Justice at Hore- 
kil, Del. 

"Sr Edmund Andross Kt. &c: By vertue of his Maties Lettr 
Pattents & the Commission and Authority unto mee, given by his 
Royall Highness, I doe hereby in his' Maties Name Constitute, appoint 
and Authorize you John Avery, Francis Whitwell, Alexander Mole- 
stine, John Kiphaven, Luke Wattson, John Roades and James Wells, 
to be Justices of the Peace at the Whore-Kill and Dependency in 
Delaware Bay, and any foure of you to be a Cort of Judicature, and 
In Case of Sicknesse absence or Otherwise of the first &c. the next in 
Commission to preside Giveing & Granting unto you and every of you 
full power to act in sd Employmt according to Law Regulacon and 
former practice, of which all persons concerned are to Take Notice 
& give you the due respect & Obedience belonging to yor Places in 
Discharging yor Dutyes. This Commission to bee of force for the 
Space of one yeare after the date hereof and takeing Yor Oathes and 
Places for the Same or till farther Order. Given under my hand & 
Seale of the Province in New Yorke, this 8th of Octobr in the 30th 
yeare of his Maties name Annoq Domini 1678. 
"Examined by mee " E. Andross. 

"Matthias Nicolls Secry." 

Henry Smith declares "That the time that Helmanus Wilt- 
bank was questioned for Treason was when the Whorekill was 
under Maryland. The persons that accused him were Dr. 
John Roades and William Prentice. The accusacon was 
made to Mr. Francis Jenkins a Justice of peace in Maryland 
who committed him to prison for the space of about a week 
& as is reported hee was cleared by the sd. Jenkins by giving 
him a Bribe. 

"That afterwards the sd. Jenkins was questioned for tak- 
ing a bribe to cleare sd. Wiltbank and taken into Custody as 
a prisonr by order of Dr. Roades on that acct., but in 
few days was releas't; Whereupon Dr. Roades came to the 
above Mr. Smith complaining of the Fact, but he having 
newly had his Writt of Ease directed him to goe to my Lords 
to St. Maryes which he did accordingly, but what the Issue 
of it was there, hee knowes not. 

"As to the discourse of Edwd Southrins conversacon with 
the devill, Hee knowes nothing but what hee & divers others 



CIVIL RECORDS. 33 

have heard from his own Mouth, talking often extrava- 
gantly in that nature. 

" As to Cor: Verhoofes being guilty of keeping false Records ; 
The same hee saith hath beene proved in Cort." 

Captain Nathaniel Walker, formerly from Boston, lately 
, from Virginia, Eastern Shore, was granted land in Cedar 
Neck on Rehoboth Bay, 1679. 

"HOREKIL ye 14th, 3d mo called May 1679. 
"Governor Andros: — ^Since thee ware pleased when I was at 
Yorke to aske me if there was anything I knew that related to this 
place for thee to settle or order doth Imbolden me to Lay one thing 
before thee, which I observe to bee a greavance and that which does 
prevent the better seating of this County, and that is thay that have 
land here are not at any Certainty what they must doe for survaying 
itt : The planters that come out of Maryland are and have been in an 
expectacion that they should pay no more then is paid for survaying 
there &c &c "Wm Clark." 

William, we see, was a Quaker. 

1679, May 19th, Governor Nicolls, at New York, appointed 
John Vine to be Sheriff of the Horekill. 

William Penn continued him in office. 

Magistrates at ye Whorekil Oct. 8, 1678: John Avery, 
ffrancis Whitwell, Alexander Molestein, John Kippshaven, 
Luke Wattson, John Roades, James Wells. 

"Court held at the Whorekil 10, 11, & 12th Dayes of Feb- 
ruary Ao. 167^3„-. 

"John Richards or Richardson, pit., John Stevens, Deft. 
Trespass & Ejectant. 

"Jury: Mr. Edward Southrin, Samuell Gray, Otto Wol- 
gast. Helms. Wiltbanck, George Young, Daniell Browne, Will- 
iam Firtcher, John Hackister, Richard Levick, Charles 
Johnson, Richard Peaty, Thomas Howard, Cornelius Ver- 
hoof, Clk." 

John Richardson was the son of John Richardson, Senr., 
of Dorchester County, Maryland. 

John Richardson and James Shackleday had taken up 
land on Duck Creek. 

Thomas Crompton was from Dorchester County, also. 

1680. Census of the responsible housekeepers & their 
families residing in Muther Creek, Cedar Creek, &c. 

In Cedar Creek: 

Robt Hart 3 in family 

Upon Joseph Cowdree plantation 3 " 

Mr. Bowman 2 or 3 " 



34 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

■ George Collins, on Shackerly's plantation 

Jno. Curtis 4 in family. 

Jno. Richardson 6 " 

Thomas Groves 2 " 

Thomas Heiffer 2 " 

Alexander Ray 2 " 

Thomas Williams and John De Shaw 2 " 

Contract for the Conveyance of Mennonists to the Dela- 
ware River. See pages 285-288: — 

"Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Amsterdam. 

"Whereas we remain, at all times, disposed to advance this city's 
Colonie in New Netherland, therefore have we, with the knowledge 
and consent of the XXXVI. Councillors, resolved to enter into the 
following agreement to that end with Pieter Comelisz Plockhoy, 
of Zieriksee, viz. He, Pieter Corn'elisz Plockhoy, undertakes to 
present to us, as soon as possible, XXIIII. men, who, with him, 
make a Society of XXV persons, shall bind themselves to depart 
by the first sailing ship or ships to the aforesaid city's Colonie to 
reside there and to work at the cultivation of the land, fishing, handi- 
craft, etc. and to be as diligent as possible not only to the end that 
they should live properly by such labor, but that provision may 
thereby be made for other coming persons and families. 

"Therefore the aforesaid Society of XXV. male persons, whether 
the same be more or less, according as they may increase or diminish, 
shall, for the whole, and, moreover, each member of said society for 
himself individually, have the privilege of selecting, taking up and 
appropriating as much land, the property of no other person, whether 
in the Whorekil or in any other part of the district of this Colonie 
wherever it may lie, as they shall be willing and able to cultivate 
and pasture. 

"Which lands, both divided and undivided, the aforesaid Society 
and Colonists respectfully shall occupy in full property, to do there- 
with as to them shall seem good. 

"And the aforesaid Colonists, for the peace, union and welfare 
of their Society, such rules and orders shall be empowered to e act 
as they shall think proper, provided, nevertheless, that each person 
who may consider himself wronged shall be at liberty to appeal to 
the Magistrate there or here. 

"The aforesaid Society, and each member thereof in particular, 
shall, for their further encouragement, be granted freedom from 
Tenths and all other imports, howsoever they be named, for the 
term of XX years. 

"And there shall be paid, likewise, to each of the aforesaid 2S 
persons, by form of a loan, a sum of one hundred guilders to provide 
himself therefrom with necessaries according to pleasure, on con- 
dition that such sum is understood to include his passage money 
only, and not those of his wife and children, who shall be conveyed 
over at the expense of this city, conformably to the printed Con- 
ditions. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 35 

"Therefore the aforesaid XXV Colonists promise and bind them- 
selves, in solidum, the one for the other, to repay the aforesaid 2,500 
guilders, in order to return hither, he shall be at liberty to do so, on 
condition of leaving to the Society the undivided land, cattle and 
all other common property, and taking with him only his own par- 
ticular goods, so that the repayment may be effected by the re- 
maining Colonists. 

"Therefore the passage money of such Colonist and family as 
have gone away shall be paid by the Society out of the common 
stock in return for his contributed labor. 

"And if any person will go over, or make the voyage at his own 
expense and yet wish to save or even sell his share in the common 
fund, he shall be at liberty to do so, on condition that he previously 
put one in his place or sell to such a one as the Society respectively 
shall approve of, in order to help to have a strict eye over the com- 
mon labor and other things besides. 

"The aforesaid Society and the individual members thereof re- 
maining further bound to observe, in all other respects, the afore- 
said printed articles. In like manner, also, the explanation of what- 
ever should herein be found to demand further interpretation re- 
mains reserved unto the Burgomasters of this State. 

"In testimony whereof we, the Burgomasters and Regents afore- 
said, the seal of this city affixed to these presents the 9th of June 
A° 1662 "Signed Wigbolt Slicher." 

' ' Having a seal impressed in Green Wax. 

At a meeting of the Council September 2Sth, 1688. 

' ' Margaret ffisher, of ye County of Sussex, Complayning that shee 
having appealed from ye Judgement of ye County Court of Sussex, 
where shee had Indicted one John Barker of ye said County, for robing 
her and her son Thomas ffisher of three head of Cattle, and that shee 
was Come up according to her Security Given, to have it reheard in 
ye ProvU Court, but ye Court not sitting, nor ye said Barker appear- 
ing in Philadelphia, she very much feared y* Said Barker would, be- 
fore ye next Provll Court, make away with ye said Cattle . 

"Ordered that ye Secretary Send to ye Justices of Sussex County, in 
behalfe of Widdow fEsher, yt they doe her what right ye Law will al- 
low to Secure the Cattle or the value, till it be reheard next Provll 
Court, in Regard there were no Court at this time." 

At a meeting of the Council Philadelphia Feb. 26, 168|-. 

" The Goverr not satisfied with ye behaviour of ye high Sheriffe of 
ye County of Sussex, proposed some other might be named by some 
of ye members present, ffor as much as himselfe was wholly a 
stranger there whereupon Wm. Rodeney was nominated by Wm. 
Clark, and Recommended by Griff Jones & Wm. Darrall, as the 
flfitest person they Could think off ffor ye present." 

William Rodney had returned to Kent County, May ISth, 
1693, and "had the oaths and Test, and oath of Clarke of 
the County of Kent, administered to him." 



36 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

List of persons, old and young, living at the Hore Kil, Del,, 
May 8, 1671. 
Helmanus Frederick Wiltbank, his wife, two sons and a 

man servant ; 
Alexander Moelsteen, his wife, two sons, and a man servant ; 
Otto Wolgast, his wife, one son, and a man servant ; 
Willem Klassen with two daughters and a child; 
Jan Kipshaven, his wife and daughter; 
James Weedon, his wife, one daughter, one son and four 

servants ; 
John Rods, his wife and five children, three sons and two 

daughters ; 
Daniel Breen, his wife and his partner, John Colleson; 
Jan Michiels, Anthony Pieters, Abraham Pieters, Pieter 

Smith, Pieter Gronedick, Anthony Sander, Herman Cor- 

nelisson, Herman Droochestraeder ; 
There are on Capt. Martyn Cregiers sloop " Bedfort " five 
. persons. 
On small boat of Pieter Alrichs from New Castle two persons. 

Edward Southrin was also accused with having conversed 
with the Devil. Henry Smith stated that "Hee (Smith) 
knowes nothing but what hee and divers others have heard 
from his (Southrin's) owne mouth, talking often extrava- 
gantly in that nature." 

Cornells Verhoofe was proven guilty keeping false Records. 
William Clark, a Quaker, lived in the Whorekill. He wrote 
a letter to Governor Andros dated: — • 

"Whorekill ye 14th 1° called May 1679 
"Governor Andros; — Since thee ware pleased when I was at 
York to Ask me if there was anything I knew that related to this 
place for thee to settel or order doth Imbolden me to Lay one thing 
before thee, which I observe to bee a greavance and that which does 
prevent the better seating of this County, and that is thay that have 
land here are not at any Certainty what thay must doe for the sur- 
vaying itt; The planters that come out of Maryland are and have 
bene in an expectacion that thay should pay no more then is paid 
for surveying there, which is one hundred pounds of Tobacco, for the 
first hundred acres, and fifty pounds for the second hundred Acres, 
twenty five pounds for every hundred Acres after to thousand Acres; 
soe that the survaying of one thousand Acres comes to but 350 
pounds. 

"But insteade thereof some have paid here Two Thousand pounds 
of Tobacco for survaying one thousand Acres &c., &c." 

The following letter was sent by Governor Andros to the 
Magistrate of the Whorekill: 



CIVIL RECORDS. 37 

"In the matter between Helmanus Wiltbanck & Cornelus Johnson 
Concerning the which the Court have certified their Report The same 
is to be allowed by order of the Governour & to be confirmed to the 
sd Halmanus Wiltbanck: In answer to the peticon of Cornelys Ver- 
hoofe to your Court, about his being Confirmed Clarke, about a 
Regulation of Fees there, the which is Certifyde to be granted by sd 
Court: Upon their Recommendation there of to the Governor, the 
same is allowed by him, & that the fees of Extraordinary Courts bee 
Ascertained, & all fees (as in other places) to be collected in the 
nature & as by execution : In answer to a former Request from the sd 
Cor. Verhoofe ; upon the Courts choice and Recommendation of him 
to bee surveyor at the Whore kill, the Go ; orders him to bee con- 
firmed till further order ; Upon a peticon of John Kipphaven to his 
honour the Go.; for a piece of wast land neare some other land which 
hee hath purchased, being his only passage into the wood. The 
Governour hath granted the same & to bee Surveyed in order to a 
patent, your Certificate whereof will be Requested; Upon an other 
peticon to his honour fr9m John Vine that he may officiate as Sherifi^e 
at the Whore kill & precints, The Go: returned the Following answer: 
Upon Security & Courts Choice allowed & confirmed for the yeare as 
the Court is; Upon a Letter or Addresse of Wm. Clarke from your 
place to the Governour concerning the uncertainty of the Surveyors 
Fees in sd parts. Its his honour's order that the price of surveys bee 
at the Whore Kill &o as in Virginia & Mary Land, money or value; 
There is yet one thing I have in Charge to acquaint you from his 
honour which is an unadvised Act of Mr. Guilaine Verplank one of 
the magistrates of this city, in taking an oath here of William Tayler 
the pretended Surveyor, concerning Severall Fees by him claymed 
for Surveying the Whore kill, the which likewise sd to bee demanded 
by Capt. Cantwell that employed him &c. &c. 

"New York June 6, 1679." 

Mr. Alexander Molestede, Justice, wish non abler. 
Mr. John Kiphaven, Justice, well to take. 
Mr. Otto Wolgast, Justice, good ordinary planter. 
Mr. Daniell Browne, under Sheriffe and Constable. 
Cornells Verhoofe, Clerke Deputy Survr. & CoUectr, 

167f , January 4th. 

Mr. Daniell Browne bing Discharged of the Constables 
office & Simon paling EUected. In the sd office Dito: Jury 
of Inquest as followeth: Hermanus Wiltbanck, foreman; 
Abraham Clement, petit; John CoUissen, William Prentice, 
Simon Paling, Robert Murdick. 

A letter to the Magistrate at the Horekil from New York: 

"By Informacon from Mr. Peter Groenendyke (the bearer hereof) 
to the Councell, That a certaine piece of Land granted to Wm Plainer, 
whereof he was in possession twelve months, was by misinformacon or 
mistake afterward given & granted by patent to Randall Revell, who 
neither sought after nor ever had pretence to the same. Concerning 



38 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

the wch no order being left his honor, It will be convenient to Let the 
matter rest as it is untill his Return, and in meane time Wm Playner 
not to bee dispossest. This I give you as the opinion of the Councell, 
beine "Gent, Yor humble servt 

"M. N 
' ' (Secretary Nicolls) . ' ' 

One John Hillyard petitioned Sir Edmond Andros about 
some land at the Whorekill, July 30th, 1678. He says: 

The humble petition of John Hillyard Humbley sheweth that 
wheare as youre pettr obtained a warrant of ye worshipfuU Courte 
of ye Whorekil for eight hundred acceres of Land in the presinks of 
Dellayway Bay wheare upon youre peeticoner sould his Land & Cat- 
till at a verey under rate by Reason of ye greate distance I Hved from 
youre honners goverment & in October last I adventured with three 
of my family in a verrey small boat through ye mane sea & come to 
ye Whorekill. 

"John not finding a surveyor and hearing that there was plenty 
of land at Duck Creek, set out for that place arriving there Decem- 
ber 24." 

He was not very fortunate there in obtaining land. A 
friend of Hillyard's, George Merten, asked for a grant ad- 
joining the said Hillyard's land at the date above and was 
as unsuccessful, as he found one Whitwell had a patent for 
the same. 

The old times, in colonial days, were not better than these 
times, as is very evident to one looking over the records 
of the Courts. The following petition of Edward Southrin 
to Gov. Andros about John Avery shows that there were 
some very lawless people living in Lewes in the seventeenth 
century. Southrin says: — 

Whereas it was your Honors good pleasire to put and Consigne 
mee though a person unworthy of soe high a Calling to bee a magis- 
trate at the Whorekilles in which office and Calling I have Indeav- 
oored by the help of God to so Discharge my Concience before God 
and man to the best of my skill and Knowledge without favor or 
Affection to any prson and soe Doeing I have Received many Abusess 
both from Mr. John Avery and Mr. Henry Smith and for noe other 
cause nor reason as I know off but for doeing my office which I humbly 
conseave to bee my duty to doe when LawfuU called there to by any 
of his magesties subjects and not to be called Roague & beggerly 
Roague with many such like abusess Speaches saieing Sarra you 
pettyfuU Lousy Raskell lett mee know you Ever grant any attachmt 
or warrants againe and you had better be hanged and if the Governor 
Doth Lett such pettifull Raskels to bee in comission I will not sitt 
for I hold it beneath mee to sitt with such a pettyfuU fellow as thou 
art it is not onely mee but others of the Comission whom they will 
not be Conformable to his unreasonable will for Mr. John Kipp- 
hauen because hee would not Draw him a Bottell of Rom for an Indian, 



CIVIL RECORDS. 39 

hee had hired on the Sabbath Day in the like termes and for noe other 
Cause that I know of Unreasonably abused by Mr. John Avery. 
And as for Mr. Henry Smith his abuses to the Court and the book 
of Lawes are not Inferior to the Rest for if wee doe act any thing 
Contrary against Mr. Smith his will then wee are called Roagues and 
a Confedeadrate with Roagues and with other threatening words 
which as I Humbly Conseave not to be omitted therefore thought 
it my Duty to inform yor Honor with it for if I Issue forth a Sum- 
mons or a warrent In his magisties name to warren in any prsons 
who are Liveing in Mr. Smith his howse Either the warrant is not 
Excecuted or if Excecuted not obeyed for hee Doth prtend They are 
his Servants and not to answer noe warrant or Summons without 
his Leave but I humbly Conseave though they where Mr. Smith's 
his Servants which I know not such thing for to my knowledg they 
were both freeman not long since yet they where as Lyable to his 
Ma*'^^ Lawes as Mr. Smith or any other prson if they bee good Sub- 
jects this being part of the Irregular proceedings I humble beseech 
yor Honor to give mee the patient prsell hearing hereof for should 
I take a- penman to writt and yor Honors Eares to heare an Like yor 
Honor I send alle the proceedings that I have done in my office and 
place which I hope yor Honor will pruse and find whether I have 
deserved these abuses or no and wholy Rely upon yor Honors good 
pleasure Either to Justifie mee or Condem mee as yor Honors wise- 
dom shall think fitt, Soe hoping yor Honor in yor good time will 
rectifie Both these and all others misdemeanours by whosoever Com- 
mitted one thing I humbly begg it of yor Honor nott that I am worthy 
to give advice, but onely begg it of yor Honor Both for the good of 
the people and the good of the place that yor Honor will bee pleased 
to Constitute sum wise Discreet sober minded Gentleman that may 
lead the people into obedience for the safety of a King or Chief gover- 
nor Consistes in obedient people, for hee that knoweth not how to 
obeye neither knowes how to Command for which cause I humbly 
beseech yor Honor to make choyse of a Cheife Commander according 
to yor Honors Discretion for this partes and that yor Honor will 
bee pleased to discharge mee from this and all other offices of trust 
which is the Humble Request of yor Honors servant to Command, 
soe hoping &c. ' "Edward Southrin. 

"From the Whorekill, 
"Sept. 18, 1678." 

Avery seems to have been a turbulent fellow and a dis- 
turber of the peace, yet through some influence, we find 
Governor Andros issuing a commission to Captain John Avery 
to be Justice at the Whore Kill. As it is dated October 
8th, 1678 (New York), and Southrin's petition is dated 
September 18th, 1678, Andros may not have received South- 
rin's letter when he issued the commission for Avery to be 
Justice. 

He was in New York when the Commission was issued 
October 8th, and took the Oath as Magistrate October 12th, 
1678, and was authorized to administer the Oath to the 



40 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Other Justices, Francis Whitwell, Alexander Molestine, John 
Kiphaven, Luke Wattson, John Roades and James Wells. 

These gentlemen seem to have had plenty of work to do, 
for Henry Smith makes a declaration: "That the time that 
Helmanus Wiltbank was questioned for Treason was when 
the Whorekill was under Maryland." The persons that 
accused him were Dr. John Roades, and WilHam Prentice. 

The accusation was made to Mr. Francis Jenkins, a Justice 
of Peace in Maryland, who "committed him to prison for 
the space of about a week and as is reported hee was cleared 
by the sd. Jenkins by giving him a Bribe." That after- 
wards "the sd. Mr. Jenkins was questioned for taking a 
bribe to cleare the sd Wiltbank and taken into Custody as 
a prisoner by order of Dr. Roades on that Acct. ; but in a 
few days was releas't; Whereupon Dr. Roades came to 
the above Mr. Smith complaining of the Fact, but he having 
newly had his writt of Ease directed him to goe to my Lords 
to St. Maryes which he accordingly did, but what the Issue 
of it was there, hee knowes not." 

November 21st, 1690. 

The members of Sussex County set forth yt. one ye members of 
Councill fior their County viz: Thomas Clifton was gon to England. 

May 8th, 1693. 

Nehemiah Field had oaths & Test, with the oath of Clarke of the 
Countie of Sussex, administered unto him. 

Nehemiah Field was returned as member of the Assembly May 10. 
1697. 

March 6th, 1694. 

" The Court gives Liberty for a Ditch to be Cutt through the most 
Convenient place of the Town of Lewes into the Creek for the Con- 
venency of Dreaning the Savanah on the back part, next to the 
Second Street Lotts, and order that the Vacant Ground that lies be- 
tween the Lott of Nehemiah Field, (Behind the Second Street and 
fronting on Mulberry Street) and the four acre Lott of Captain 
Thomas Pemberton, adjoining upon Richard HoUoway, be Reserved 
for a Market Place, and the vacant peace of Land next Adjoining on 
the Southwest side of John Miers, his Lott, to the Block Hoiise pond, 
and between the Block House Field and that be used as a Common 
Burying Ground. ' ' 

The ditch was made to run down the Southwest side of Mulberry 
Street, and up what is now Third Street. The Market House would 
have been between Mulberry and Camomile Streets, and Third, and 
Church Streets. 

Later on we see that the Court changed its mind, for we read, 
" September 6, 1696, Whereas at a Court held the sixth and seventh 



■ Cn'IL RECORDS. 41 

days of March 1694 a Certain peace of Land In the Town of Lewes, 
In the Mulberry Street, Lyeing and being between the 4 acres of Cap- 
tain Thomas Pemberton, and the Lott of Nehemiah Field was ordered 
to be reserved for a Market place the Court upon a second Vue 
thereof Do find the same not to be convenient as was expected, and 
so order the same to be free, to be granted out unto Town Letts 60 
foot in breadth and 200 foot in Length. ' ' 

Majr 20th, 1695. 

Wm. Clark. Thomas Pemberton & Robert Clifton were returned as 
members of the Assembly for Sussex County. 

September 3d, 1698. 

The Lt.-Gov. acquainted the Council yt he had received a Lre 
from ye Justices of Sussex County, & desired ye Secrie to read it, 
which hee did viz: may it please yor Honor, This to or sorrows, but 
according to our dutes, is to inform. That on friday last, in the after- 
noon, a small snug-ship & a sloop came to wtin our Cape, not not 
wholly undesired, but little dreaded of being an enemy or french, 
both which they proved & yesterday morning Landed about SO men, 
well armed & came up ye town & plundered almost every house 
yrin, Committing great spoil, breaking open doors & chests, and 
taking away all money or plate to be found, as also, all manner of 
goods & merdize worth any thing, together with ruggs, blanketting, 
& all other bedd Covering, Leaving scarce any thing in ye place to 
Cover or wear. 

They brought two English prisoners on shore wt. ym bound, one 
of ym known to be .Jno Redwood, of Philadelphia, His Boy, with 
whom they would suffer no Converse, but wee suppose ye sd .sloop to 
be said Redwood's taken coming out of Cinnepuxon Inlett; They 
all went on board last night; killed several sheep and Hogs. They 
continue still at anchor in ye birth, as neer in the bay opposite to 
this town as they well can find water to ride in, & its doubted they 
will be on shore again before night for more Cattle, if not to burn ye 
houses; but we shall endeavor to scare ym. They Ly ready for all 
mischief inwards or outwards by land or water, and Have pilots any 
way. ' 

They are now in Chasse Inwards of a Briganteen with their sd sloop. 

The briganteen outsails ym, & wee Hope in God, will escape. 

They are begarly Rogues, and will pillage for a trifle, and do think 
they tarry long enough untill ye man of warr att York may have 
speedy notice. 

They took about eleven of ye Chief of our town prisoners, & when 
they had made them help on board their plunder, dismist all except 
one man, Capt. Watson's Carpenter. 

This place is verie open to danger, & verie naked for defence. 

Mr Clark's House & Goods hath Sufficiently shared in ye villany. 

Wee hope wee need not repeat ye Calamities aforesaid, nor ye 
great terror yt must needs here attend all Sexes & Sizes; — By Sir yer 
Humble Servants — Luke Watson, John Hill, Tho. Oldman, Jonat 
Baily. 



42 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEJ^ COUNTY. 

May nth, 1698. 

Representatives returned for Sussex County Thomas Oldman, 
Jonathan Bayley, Cornelius Wiltbank, & Luke Watson Jr. 

June 27th, 1693. 

Edward Burch set forth, That having Sailled from Barbadoes in 
the barkenteen Ann, George Stiles, Mr. & onlle one man and a boy 
more belonging to her, the petitioner and his servant being to have 
their passage for their Labour; that the Mr, to the Southward of the 
Cape Henlopen, was casually knockt over board and Lost, to the 
hazard of the Shipp, goods & passengers, and that att the desire of 
the people on board, the petitioner, with great hazard of his hfe, went 
ashoare, & for saving the Life of the people, & for preserving the 
vessell & cargoe, did agree with a person to pylot her to some safe 
harbour, and to give him twentie pounds, and having had an easie 
& speedie passage into the whorekills, the said pylot was willing to 
take ten pounds sterling. 

June ISth, 1695. 

Order to the Justices of the Peace at Lewes that a watch by two 
men, be kept a Cape Henlopen, to watch for the French enemies, 
from 5 Oclock in the morning to Seven Oclock at night. 

William Massey was made collector of the Customs at Lewes 
November 21, 1696. 

Thomas Pemberton, Roger Corbet & John Miers members of the 
Assembly for Sussex Co. Oct. 26, 1696. 

September 10th, 1696. 

John Stoaklie, Thomas Oldman, Joseph Booth, Henrie Malleston, 
James Peterkin, & Jonathan Baylie were members of the Assembly, 
for Sussex Co. 

April 12th, 1700. 

The pror. & Gov. acquainted ye Council yt hee had Late intelligence 
yt Wm. Orr. Geo. Thompson peter Lewis Henry Stretcher & Diggerie 
Tenny, inhabitants of ye town of Lewis in Sussex Countie, had gone on 
board Capt. kidd, ye privateer, (who in July last Lay some days before 
Cape Henlopen,) and had Corresponded wt him, & recei\'ed from him 
and his crew some muslins. Calicoes, monies & other goods wch. wer 
East India, & prohibited goods, & yt they had brought ym on shore 
hid, sold, & given away most of ym, wtout acquainting ye. govrmt, or 
ye king's CoUr of ye port of Lewis wt. ye same, wch hee lookt upon to 
be, if not piracie, at Lest Confederating wt ym, and accessories & pro- 
moters of illegal trade, & yrfor desiring ye Councill's advice yrin. 
Itt was the opinion of the Gov. & Council, The Law- 
man, Collector of port Lewis, should be attested as solemnlie as if he 
took an oath to declare ye truth as farr as hee knows &c. 

August 16th, 1703. 

Samuel Rowland of Philidia, mariner, having yesterday arrived 
with his sloop from Lewis, in Sussex, & brought advice, That there 



CIVIL RECORDS. 43 

was a certain ship lately arrived there wch they had some reason to 
suspect was on no honest design; the Council meeting upon that 
occasion, sent for the said Rowland and examined him, and upon 
his solemn attestation he declares 

Wn He, the said Rowland, and ye Collector of ye said Port, (viz 
H. Brooke) having been a few miles out of ye town of Lewis, & re- 
turning thither on Wednesday last, ye 11th instant, they perceived 
a ship ride off ye sd Port, and enquiring in the town concerning her, 
they were told she was either a ffrench Ship or Prize, and found some 
of her men landed, two of whom particularly they met with, and ye 
said Collector Inquiring of them whether they belonged to that vessel 
they answ.ered yes; ye CoUectr then asked what papers they had to 
show, upon wch they produced a Copy of a Commission wch they 
said was their Capts; That presently after they mett with three 
more of ye men, who had come ashore & staid wth them near three 
hours, that ye two they first mett with prest ye other three to goe 
on board with water they came ashore for, but they refused, and 
that ye said two earnestly urged the others not to lett their fellow 
Souldiers perish, calUng them Barbarous Dogs for their Inhumanity, 
& that it would be kinder to pistol them then to lett them die for 
thirst Upon wch this Informant offered that in Case one of ye sd 
two men (who were ye most genteel) would stay on shore as a pledge 
for him he would carry them water on board, and accordingly one 
staid, & he carried them four anchors of water, of wch they drank 
up two he thinks before he left them; That they called ye Capt. 
Burgess, & said ye ship was a french prize, loaden with wheat, came 
from Callary within ye Straights, Was taken ye Canaries by Capt. 
Pullen, Companion to Capt. Dampier, on his intended expedition to 
the South Seas; that ye men said they were ordered by Capt. Pullen 
to come with the said ship into these parts to Sell her, & when sold 
he would meet them in this river; That they said they had but 15 
men in all; That they had 12 great Guns, & Seemed to be about 120 
Tuns; that according to their own accot they had Tenn Thousand 
Bushels of wheat aboard. 

That ye said Informant going on board with only two of the 
5 men (viz) one sailor and another of ye two first, they saw the 
Capt. who seemed much disturbed, his men were not come aboard. 
But that he that was left a pledge wrote a letter to ye Capt. by ye 
other person, upon wch the Capt was satisfied; that ye Capt after 
some words, resolved himself to come on shoar, wch he accordingly 
did; 

That meeting those of his men that were on the shoar, and menac- 
ing them they submitted & promised to goe on board, being sent to 
gett some water & Provision they ran away, and that one of the 
other two who came ashoar wth the Capt., said he would do the same 
when he could. 

That hereupon the Capt took occasion to threaten this Informant 
as the cause of his men running away, that he attempted to draw upon 
him but that he was disarmed by the Company, as as also the Capt's 
Companion Charleton by name. Upon wch the Sherif Secured ye 
Boat, and was consulting with ye Collector to raise ye Posse of ye 
County & took ye Capt into Custody That ye Informant further 
adds, that inquiring earnestly of some of the men to know what they 



44 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

were, One of them told him that their then Capt who was Lieutenant 
to Capt PuUen, had been 3 days in irons some time before they parted 
from the sd PuUen. 

He further adds, that upon a hghted match, accidently touching 
one of the men's legs, who Complained of ye pain, the Capt asked 
him how he would have bore what their Boatswain did, to have 
matches burn between his fingers, upon which the other swore the 
Boatswain was a stout fellow, suffered bravely, without divulging 
any thing. 

That there was none of the prisoners on board of when the ship 
was taken, of wch being asked ye Reason, they said she was taken 
in the night near ye shore, & that the men gott off in their boats & 
escaped, and that those who were on shoar said, that if they who were 
on borrd could gett on shoar, at least 8 or 10 of them would desert 
her. There was a commission issued to Capt Thomas Braines to 
proceed to Lewes seize the ship and bring it to Philada. 

August 24th, 1703. 

Information being made to this board. That ye Collector of Lewis 
was come upon to this town & made Complaint to Judge Clark, & the 
Secry of Jonathan Bailey, the Sherif of the County of Sussex, that 
he was remiss in Discharging his duty, & giving him the sd CoUectr 
necessary assistance in apprehending ye Commandr & Sailors of ye 
ship that had lately come in and anchored before that port, being 
the Prize taken by Capt PuUeyn, and ye said Judge Clark, the Supream 
officer of ye said County, directing the said Complaint to ye Board, 
& accusing him of great remissness & stubborness in his office in gen- 
eral. 

It was ordered, that ye said Jonathan Daily's Commission should 
be superseded, & the place granted to Luke Watson, senr, who had 
formerly petitioned for the same. 

July 9th, 1709. 

Richard Westly of Lewis, in Sussex, arriving here early this morning, 
with an express sent from thence by him, in a Boat & 4 Oars, by the 
Govr. now there, to give notice to the Govmt, here, that on ye 6th & 
7th instant, a french Privateer had Endeavoured to Land at Lewis 
aforesaid, but being prevented by the opposition made to him, stood 
up the Bay where the said Westly, on coming up did pass him ; Where- 
upon (as he further informs), he according to the Govr's Orders to 
him, which was the principle Design of sending him by water, had 
given notice to all ye outward bound Vessels, yt he could possibly 
come to speak with, that they might avoid the danger, and the sd 
Westly Desiring to be satisfied for his own & his Companions Trouble 
herein. 

March 6th, 1704. 

Cornelius Wiltbank, Brother in Law to Jno. WiUiams, who hanged 
himself at Lewis, having waited on the Govr & acquainted him that 
he desired & requested Letters of administration on the said Defendts 
Estate, & the Govr acquainted him with the orders made Concerning 
that Estate, the sixth of last month. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 45 

The said Cornel. Wiltbank appeared at this board and pleads that 
his Brother in Law was not Compos Mentis at the time of making 
himself away, and that it plainly appears to be so by the Inquest 
then past upon him. 

November 9th, 1709. 

Richard Westly of Lewis, having produced to the Govr, a letter 
from Capt. Cook, Commandr of the Garland, certifying that the 
said Westly had served 21 days on board her Majesty the Queen's 
Ship, as Pilot, while she was in our Bay, for which service this Govmnt 
ought to consider him. 

They allowed him 21 Dollars. 

April 20th, 1704. 

Commission of ye Peace, & for ye County of Sussex was filled up 
& directed to Willm Clark, John Hill, Tho. Pemberton, Luke Watson, 
Tho. ffisher, Tho. ffenwick, James Walker, Phil Russel, Jno. Waltham, 
& Willm Bagwell, Esqrs, and commission renewed to Luke Watson, 
senr, for Sherif & Nehemiah ffield, for Clerk of ye said County, & a 
Dedimus Potestatem, directed to Geo. Lowther, for qualifying ye said 
Justices. 

October 21st, 1708. 

The following members withdrew from the Assembly in Philada, 
for form a separate body in the Three Lower Counties 
Thos. ffisher Suss Philip Russell 1 

Rich. Empson Newc Willm ffisher I ^ 

Corns Wiltbank Suss Nichos Grainger j 

James Booth Kent Ad Johnson J 

November 23d, 1721. 

The Govr acquainted the Board, That as they were all sensible he 
had, with their Advice and Approbation, in pursuance (as He had 
understood) of the late Proprietor's Inclinations when here, ever since 
his Administration, observed some kind of an Equality or Proportion 
in his appointment of the subordinate officers of Govnmt., between 
those who profess themselves Members of the Church of England and 
the People called Quakers. He had no reason to doubt but that the 
Board was well satisfied the same method should be observed in the 
Council. He had some time ago made mention to most of the mem- 
bers now present of Henry Brooke, Esq., Collector of his Majesty's 
Customs at Port Lewis, within this Government, and of late a useful 
magistrate in the County of Sussex, as a fit person to supply the place 
of Jasper Yeates, Esq. a member of this Board, lately deceased; 
To which the Governour was more particularly induced from this con- 
sideration, that it had been usual, and is still expected by the In- 
habitants of the lower Counties, that there should be always at least 
two members in the Council from those Counties: Wherefore, He now 
proposes that with the consent of this board, the said Henry Brooke 
should be admilted a member thereof. 

All the Members present being sensible of Mr. Brooke's great Knowl- 
edge, Ability, and Worth, unanimously agree that He be admitted 
accordingly as soon as the Governour thinks fit. 



46 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

July 2Sth, 1726. 

Henry Brooke & Jonathan Baily Esqs of Sussex were appointed 
Judges of the Supreme Court. 

September 23d, 1726. 

The Govr acquainted the Board, that one Alexander Molliston of 
the County of Sussex had seven or eight days since brought him a 
petition, complaining of some abuses he had received in that County — 
the said Petition was read setting forth sundry abuses the Petitioner 
had suifered from William Till, who as magistrate, & by his Influence 
on the Court of the County, had admitted divers arbitrary acts, by 
means of which the Petitioner was utterly disabled from following 
his Employment & providing Bread for his Family. 

After reading Petition, one of the Members likewise informed the 
Board, that the same Justice William Till had some months agoe 
broke open & Kept up a Letter wrote & sent by James Steel of Philada. 
to Robert Shankland, Surveyor of the County of Sussex, inclosing 
some copies of an Address from a late Assembly of the lower Counties 
to the Governour Sir William Keith, in the Beginning of his Adminis- 
tration, which were thought proper to be distributed for the Pro- 
prietors Service, that the said WilHam Till had most contumeliously 
treated the said James Steel on that occasion, tho' he had acted 
therein for the Proprietor's Ser\dce only, & as his officer, and had not 
given either the said William Till, or any reasonable Person, any 
just occasion to be offended with his Proceedings in that affair. 

Another Member likewise, that in a late Assembly of the three 
lower Counties, Mr Till had used most indecent & disregardful Ex- 
pressions of the Proprietary Family. 

William was relieved of his office, A new Commission of Peace 
being to be issued for the said County, the following Persons are 
agreed on to be inserted in the same, vizt: Henry Brooke, Richard 
Hinman, Philip Russel, John Roades, Woolsey Burton, Samuel Row- 
land, Jeremiah Claypoole, Jacob KoUock, John Jacobs, Samuel Davis, 
Joseph Cord, Robert Shankland, George Walton & Enoch Cumings. 

October 4th, 1726. 

For Sussex County Rives Holt, & Peter Adams being returned 
for Sherifs, & Samuel Davis & Edmund Naws for Coroners, Rives 
Holt is appointed Sherif & Samuel Davis Coroner. 

October 4th, 1727. 

For Sussex County: Rives Holt & Peter Adams being returned 
for Sherifs, and Samuel Davies and John Russell for Coroners, Rives 
Holt is appointed Sherif & Samuel Davies Coroner. 

October 3d, 1728. 

For Sussex County: Rives Holt & Robert Smith being returned 
for Sherifs, & John Jacobs & Samuel Davis for Coroners. Rives Holt 
is appointed Sherif, John Jacobs Coroner. 



CIVIL RECORDS. 47 

October 4th, 1729. 

For Sussex County. Rives Holt & John Jacobs returned for 
Sherifs, & Joseph Pemberton & John Roades for Coroners, Rives 
Holt is appointed Sherif & John Roades Coroner. 

October 6th, 1730. 

For Sussex County: James Fenwick & Simon Kollock being 
returned for Sherifs, & Robert Smith & Cornelius Wiltbank for 
Coroners, Simon Kollock is appointed Sherif & Cornelius Wiltbank 
Coroner. 

October 6th, 1731. 

For the County of Sussex: Simon Kollock & James Fenwick being 
returned for Sherifs, & Cornelius Wiltbank & John Clowes for Coroners, 
Simon Kollock is appointed Sherif & John Clowes Coroner. 

October 4th, 1733. 

For the County of Sussex: Simon Kollock & Robert Smith being 
returned for Sherifs, & Joshua Fisher & John Clowes for Coroners, 
Simon Kollock is appointed Sherif, & Joshua Fisher Coroner. 

October 5th, 1734. 

For the County of Sussex: Robert Smith & Cornelius Wiltbank 
being returned for Sherifs, and Joshua Fisher and John Roades for 
Coroners, Cornelius Wiltbank is appointed Sherif and Joshua Fisher 
Coroner. 

October 3d, 1735. 

For the County of Sussex, Cornelius Wiltbank & John Shankland 
being returned for Sherifs, and Daniel Nunez & William Selthuge for 
Coroners, John Shankland is appointed Sherif, and Daniel Nunez 
Coroner. 

October 3d, 1740. 

Commissions made out to Cornelius Wiltbank as Sherif of Sussex 
County,. & John Wynkoop as Coroner of said County. 

October Sth, 1745. 

Commissions to William Shankland Esq. Sherif, & Robert Gill, 
Gentm. Coroner of the County of Sussex. 

October 4th, 1746. 

William Shankland Sheriff and John Jlolliston Coroner of Sussex 
County. 

July 13th, 1747. 

A letter by Express from New Castle : 

"Gentlemen: — This Moment Thomas Quant & a son of Mr Nan- 
dins informs me a Company of French or Spaniards, to the number 
of One hundred or thereabouts, has Robb'd & Plunder'd the Houses 



48 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

of James Hart & Edmund Listen, and carried off all the valuable part 
of their Negroes & other Goods, and its supposed they have done so 
all the way to Lewis Town. 

"David Wetherspoox." 

September 14th, 1747. 

The Capt. of a Pilot Boat, Despatched as an Express from Lewes 
Town last Saturday, delivered to the President this morning the fol- 
lowing Letter directed to the President & Council : 

"Sir & Gentleman: — On Tuesday last 2 Sloops went up the Bay 
with a Pilot Boat tending in each of them; on Wednesday evening 
they returned & anchored with the said boats in Lewes Road, which 
hath kept our Watch upon hard Duty Day and Night. 

"One of the said Vessels we imagine to be gone over to Cape Slay, 
the other took in our sight last Night a Ship outward Bound, and her 
Pilot Boat another Ship this morning that was coming in, and is now 
in Chace of a third ship, which we fear will fall into her hands in an 
hour or two. 

"These things we judged proper to immediately communicate, and 
hope the Merchants & Traders at Philadelphia will pay this Express 
£3, being the sum agreed for to convey it. 

"Sir &■ Gentlemen Your obedt, hble Sevts 

" Rs Holt 
"Jacob Kollock 
"Jacob Phillips." 

This Assembly "could only lament their & the good People of 
Lewes Town's unhappiness in being thus remedilessly exposed to any 
Attempts the Enemy should please to make." 

They paid the Express £3. 

September 21st, 1747. 

" Information being given that se\-eral Vessells belonging to this 
and other Ports were lately taken by a French Privateer of the Capes 
of Delaware, and that some of the Pilots & People who were on board 
at the time of Capture were in Town, they were sent for, and Mr. 
Kelly & Luke Shields, one of the Pilots who had the charge of the 
Privateer, attending without, they were examined." 

September 2Sth, 1747. 

" WilUam Kelly being sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty 
God deposeth and saith, that he being a Passenger on board the 
Sloop Elizabeth, Pyramus Green Commander, bound from Providence 
to Philadelphia, on or about the 28 " day of August last he was taken 
off the Coast of North Carolina by a French Pri\-ateer Sloop called 
the Marthel Vodroit, Capt. Lepay Commander, belonging to Cape 
Francois, who had taken three English Prizes before as this Deponent 
was informed; that after they had taken the said Sloop EHzabeth 
they stood to the Northward, and on their cruise took six more Eno-- 
lish Prizes, to wit, a Brigantine and two Ships off the Capes of Vir- 
ginia, and a Sloop about fifteen Leagues off the Capes of Delaware, 
one Newbold Master, & two Ships in the Bay of Delaware, one of 
them called the Bolton, Oswald Eves Commander, and the other 



CIVIL RECORDS. 49 

called the Delaware, Lake Commander, this Deponent being at 

the times of the taking of the said six Prizes, a Prisoner on board 
the said French Privateer. 

" That the said French Privateer was a Vessel of about Ninety or 
one hundred tons, and carried fourteen Carriage Guns, sixteen Swivels, 
and six Swivel Blunderbusses, and had when he left Cape Francois, 
as this Deponent was informed, about one hundred and seventy men, 
but at the time of this Deponent's being taken, had but one hundred 
& thirt)- men belonging to her. 

" That this Deponent took some of the Privateer's Crew to be Eng- 
lish, some Irish, and some Scotch, but the most part of them were 
Frenchmen & Spaniards. 

That the first land they made off Delaware was Cape May; that 
the Privateer hoisting English colours, one William Flower, a Pilot, 
came off from the said Cape and came on board the Privateer, that 
when the said William Flower came on board, the Commander of 
the Privateer, by a Linguist, ordered him to take Charge of the said 
Privateer & to carry the said Privateer where the Shipping lay; that 
the said William Flower at first misunderstanding the said Com- 
mander's Orders, as this Deponent imagines, made answer that there 
was water enough there, pointing towards the Sea, but upon being 
told that that was not what the Commander meant, he the said Will- 
iam Flower asked if they meant that he should carry the Privateer 
up the River, to which the said Commander answered. Yes, and then 
the said William Flower took Charge of the said Privateer and was 
carrying her round towards Cape Henlopen, when Luke Shields, 
another Pilot, came on board from Cape Henlopen, the said Privateer 
being under English Colours, that the said Commander of the said 
Privateer was very Inquisitive concerning Philada. and asked Will- 
iam Flower how Matters stood at Philadelphia, and what Shipping 
was coming down. William Flower answered that he could not tell 
as he had not been to Philadelphia for seven or eight days; that 
upon Luke Shields coming on board, the Commander of the Privateer 
asked him the like questions, and Luke Shields answered, that as 
he had not been at Philadelphia for a great while, he could not tell, 
but that his Man knew as he had been there lately. 

" The Man being asked, answered that the Privateer Trembleur was 
then coming down, and that he believed the Pandour was fitting out. 

" That after Shields coming on board the care of the Privateer was 
committed to him in conjunction with Flower, that this Deponent 
acquainted Shields that Flower had promised this Deponent to carry 
the Privateer within less than a Mile of Cape Henlopen, to the end 
this Deponent might swim on Shore in the Night, which this De- 
ponent had resolved to do in order to obtain his Liberty and inform 
the People of the said Privateer, and this Deponent made it his re- 
quest to the said Shields that he would assist this Deponent in his 
Design by bringing the said Privateer so near the shore that this 
Deponent might swim on shore with safety, but the said Shields re- 
fused to do it, & said he would carry the said Privateer where she 
might meet with the most Prizes; upon this Deponent asking him 
why he would do so, he answered that the Privateer came for Prizes 
and would not go away without them, and by this Means he should 
sooner get his Liberty; That the said Pilot brought the said Privateer 



50 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

to an anchor somewhere about the Brown, but it blowing hard she 
afterwards came to an anchor within two leagues of the pitch of the 
Cape; That the Day after the taking of the last Prizes, the English 
Prisoners to the number of about seventy, were permitted to go on 
shore in three Pilot Boats which the Enemy had taken." 

"Bernard Martin of Philada, Mariner, late Commander of the 
Ship Mary of London, Being within a mile of Cape Henlopen, and 
a signal for a Pilot being out on Tuesday the fourteenth Day of July 

1747) about seven o'Clock in the Morning, this Deponent was hailed 
by a Privateer Sloop of about ten Guns, but as this Deponent had 

verything ready for an Engagement, the Privateer made off with- 
out making an attack. 

"That about Eight o'Clock the same morning this Deponent saw 
a Pilot Boat coming towards him, which this Deponent well knew 
as the Pilot who this Deponent saw upon Deck; that this Deponent 
taking it to be an English Pilot permitted it to come along side of his 
ship; that thereupon a number of French & Spaniards, to the amount 
of Thirty Five or thereabouts, instantly boarded this Deponents Ship, 
and this Deponent offering to make some Resistance, he, this Deponent, 
was shott at by three of the Enemy, and one of the Balls grazed this 
Deponent's Cheek, and another his arm & side, and immediately after- 
wards this Deponent was knocked down; and then they tacked the 
Ship and stood out to Sea, but did not crowd Sail ; and the next morn- 
ing they tack'd again and stood in for the Bay, and at about four 
o'clock in the Afternoon on Wednesday they put this Deponent and 
se\'en of his men into the Pilot Boat and discharged them, and then 
stood off with the Ship with an Intention, after they had got provisions 
and other Things necessary (as this Deponent heard some of them 
say) to cruize between this Bay, the Capes of Virginia, and Cape 
Fear, That this Deponent understood the People on board the 
Pilot Boat who took this Deponent did belong to the Privateer Sloop 
which this Deponent had seen in the morning of the Day he was 

taken. That the Captain's name was Barnard, a Frenchman, & 

had a French Commission which he shewed to this Deponent; that 
about half his Company were French and about half Spaniards. That 
among the said Privateers there was one Englishman who this De- 
ponent was told was a Boston Man, he having owned the same to 
one of this Deponent's Mariners as this Deponent was informed; that 
he spoke very good English, and like an Englishman, and told this 
Deponent he knew Philadelphia. 

"That the Captain Barnard told this Deponent he did not doubt 
but he should be up at Philadelphia in Six Months. That from the 
scarcity of Provisions among the said Privateers this Deponent verily 
believes they intend to make a Descent in order to procure more, 
that what little Provisions they had they were verv lavish of, washing 
their feet in fresh Water and throwing their offal Victuals overboard; 
that this Deponent understanding Spanish and French heard the 
said Privateers talking among themselves, and understood from them 
that they intended to make a Descent somewhere for provisions — 
this Deponent being in his Hammock he supposes they imagined 
he was asleep. "Bernard Martin. 

"Sworn the 17th July, 1747 before 

"Jos. Turner.'' 



CIVIL RECORDS. 51 

April nth, 1748. 

A Petition from the Pilots using the Bay & River of Delaware 
was read in these words, viz: 

"To the Honourable Anthony Palmer, Esqr., Presid' of the Gov- 
ernment of the Counties of New-Castle Kent, and Sussex, on Dela- 
ware, & Province of Pennsylvania," 

"The humble Petition of the Pilots, Inhabitants of the County 
of Sussex, on Delaware. 

"Whereas, Your Petitioners, as well Pursuant to an Act of General 
Assembly of this Government as Your Honour's late Proclamation, 
are prohibited going on board any inward bound vessell in the Bay & 
River Delaware, which said Act & Proclamation your Petitioners are 
fully convinced are justly Calculated for the safety of this Govern- 
ment, and therefore willing to pay all due obedience. 

"And Whereas, The Pilots that dwell in the Government of Xew 
Jersey (from a false Representation . of Your Petitioners having 
Lycence to Cruise for Vessells & go on board the same as Pilots) are 
not restrained by any Law of that Governm.ent, but, as Your Peti- 
tioners are informed have leave to Cruize and go on board vessells 
as Pilots, & daily do the same within the Bay & River aforesaid, 
which in its Consequence may prove prejudicial to this Government 
and likewise prevent Your Petitioners acquiring a Competent sup- 
port for their Familys, for Your Honour may be assured that no 
inward bound Vessell will call at Lewes for a Pilot when any other 
may be had Cruizing off. . 

' ' Your Petitioners therefore humbly entreat your Honours Interest 
and Friendship with the Government of the Jersey for restraining 
the Pilots of that Government in such manner and by such measures 
as may be thought most expedient, not only for the safety of this 
Government but that Your Petitioners may have an Equal Chance 
for their Livelyhood in their proper Employments; And Your Pe- 
titioners shall ever pray. 

"Wm. Field, 
"Luke Field, 
"Samuel Rowland, 
"Samuel Rowland, Jun., 
"Wm. Rowland, 
"Simon Edwards, 
"John Baily, 
"John Maull, 
"John Adams.". 

June 2d, 1748. 

The President & Four Members sign'd a Commission to Abraham 
Wiltbank to Command an Intelligence Boat & wear a Flagg. 

"By the Honable, the President and Council of the Province of 
Pennsylvania. 

"To Abraham Wiltbank of Lewis Town, Pilot, Greeting; 

"Whereas, by reason of the Bay and River Delaware being now 
greatly infested with the Enemie's Privateers, we have judged it 
necessary that some fit and proper Persons shall be forthwith em- 



52 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

ployed and commissioned to observe and give us constant intelli- 
gence of the Motions and Designs of the said Privateers; and we have 
thought you fitly qualified for that purpose & confiding in Your Loy- 
alty, Vigilance, & Integrity, Do hereby Grant Commission to Author- 
ize and appoint You the said Abraham Wiltbank to fit out and Com- 
mand an Intelligence Boat for the purposes aforesai-d, & therewith 
immediately to proceed and continue to pass & repass down & up 
the said River & Bay (During our Pleasure) in order to discover, ob- 
serve, and get force, & designs of the said Privateers or other his 
Majesty's Enemies, & from time to time bring or transmit to Us 
with the utmost Expedition full Accounts and Advice thereof, Hereby 
giving & granting to you License & Authority during your acting 
and continuing in the same service to hoist & wear in Your said Boat 
A Red Pendant with two white Cresses, and for so doing this shall 
be your warrant. 

"Given under our Hands in Council & the Lesser Seal of the Said 
Province, at Philadelphia, the 3d of June, in the Twenty-first Year 
of His Majesties Reign, Annogz Domini, 1748. 

"Anthony Palmer." 

Another of the same Tenor was Signed to John Maule, authorizing 
him to wear an English Jack. 

May 31st, 1748. 

Abraham Wiltbank, Commander of one of the Government Pilot 
Boats, bringing advice that he had been for a day or two off the Capes 
& met with no Enemies Vessells^the Embargo was taken off. 

October 4th, 1755. 
I Jacob KoUock, Jun, Sheriff Paynter Stockley, Cor"". Sussex County. 

October 5tH, 1756. 
John Rodney, Sheriff 1 „ _ 

Wrixam Lewis, Cor--. j ^^^^^^ ^o. 

"Resolved that Mr. Samuel Morris Junr wait on Mr. William 
Rechards, Captain Falconer, and Captain Reed, and inform them 
they are (with any other person they may fix on) appointed a Com- 
mittee to fix up proper signals in the River and Bay of Delaware, to 
give the most speedy intelligence of any Enemy Ships that may 
arrive at or within the Capes of Delaware The Committee appoint 
James Maul with his Boat 

"Whereas Captain William Bradford and Thomas Pryor report 
to this Board that Angus McBean made application yesterday to 
Nehemiah Maul for his Pilot Boat to go on board the Man of War, 
now in our Bay, with the assurance that he had the consent of this 
Committee &c McBean guaranteed £130 in case Man of War de- 
tained him. March 31, 1776." 

April 15, 1776. 

"A Pilot allowed the Sloop Congress provided the Captain of her 
will promise and engage to go down the Cape May Channel and land 
his Pilot there." 



CIVIL RECORDS. 



53 



May 24, 1776. 

" Lt George Ball, belonging to the Roebuck Man of War, taken in 
a Pilot Boat at Cape Henlopen some time past. Paroled." 

September 19, 1776. 

" James Maul appointed Pilot to carry vessels through the chevaux 
de frise, in room of Daniel Gordon, deceased." 

October IS, 1776. 

" Mr. Nesbit directed to pay James Thomson for 35^ gallons of 
Rum, and 4 quarts of Molasses, for use of Col. Miles Batthon* while at 
Lewes Town, to be charged to Congress. £18." 



Chevaux de Prize Pilots. 

Michael Dawson October 1 

Joseph Gamble October 1 

Daniel Gordon October 1 

WilHam Marshall October 1 

Nehemiah Maul October 1 

William Molleston October 1 

James Roberts October 1 

William Ross October 1 

John Schnieder October 1 

James Maul February 20 

Nathan Storey February 20 

Michael Dean June 26 

John Marshall was pilot on the fire ship "Hecla" 
21st, 1777. 



177S 
177S 
1775 
1775 
1775 
1775 
1775 
1775 
1775 
1776 
1776 
1777 

July 



*Rev. C. H. B. Turner, Lewes, Del. 

It appears from the official records that Captain David Hall's Company and 
Captain Charles Pope's Company of the Delaware Battalion (or Regiment) of Conti- 
nental troops, commanded by Colonel John Haslet, was in barracks at Lewes (or Lewis) 
Town April 11, 1776; and that a part of Captain Latimer's Independent Company, 
Delaware, was "On station at Lewes by order of the House of Assembly or Council 
of Safety of this Government" April 29, 1776. No original records of those organi- 
zations are on file in this office, but, from correspondence with the Secretary of State 
of Delaware, it appears that some records of those organizations are on file in his 
office. 

From such an examination of the incomplete collection of Revolutionary records 
on file in this office as it has been practicable to make, it has been impossible to ascer- 
tain whether any other organization was quartered or stationed at Lewes, or in Sussex 
County, Delaware, during the Revolutionary war. 

No record of any Colonel Miles' Battalion of Delaware troops in that war has been 
found on file in this office. 

F. C. AiNSWORTH, 

The Adjutant General. 



54 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 



COURT RECORDS. 



[This begins with 2d entry in Record Book, the first being well 
faded out.] 

Deale County. 
June 15th, 1681. 

A patton of Land Acckowlidged in open [Court] by John Kiphaven 
and Bartree his wife to WilUam Clark; and by william Clark and Hon- 
nor his wife to nathanil walker. 

A patton of Land Accknowlidged in open Court by Elizabeth Par- 
ling and nathanil walker unto william Clark. 

The Court fine nathanil walker ififty pounds of Tobacco; for 
smoking of Tobacco in the Court. 

The Court Grant unto Phillip Morrise foure hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out ISth Insnt for these Lands. 

The Court Grant unto John Dickerson foure hundred Acres of 
Land; warrant Given out the ISth, 2 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Richard w[illiam] foure hundred Acres of 
Land; Richard william warrt given [torn]. 

John Kiphaven have a Grant from the Court of the third Towne 
Lott to the front from the Land of nathanil walker; he paying the 
Rent which shall be ordered by the Governor yearly. 

The Court order and Grant unto John Hagester ffoure hundred 
Acres of Land; A warrant given out the 26th, 11 mo, 1681. 

Halmanias wiltbanck peticoner Agt John vines shreife. The 
peticoner sett forth that the shreife have taken upon Execu- Henry 
Harmon at the suit of the peticoner; And that the said shreife doe 
Contrary to Law suffer his prissoner to goe at Larg; the shreife pleade 
that he have no prison provided to keepe his prissoners in at present; 
The Court doe there for order that the shreife shall confine these 
prisoners to the house and yards whare the sd shreif do or shall 
Live untill the said prisoner shall be Leagally discharged by the pit; 
and that in the mean time the pit shall A[llow] the prisoner Two 
shillings and six pe[nce] a week for his maintance; And the Like 
order that the Court doe make for all other pe[rsons] that shall be 
upon Execution for debt; u[ntill] there Can be a prison built and 
provid[ed] for that purpose. 

[Two entries omitted, mostly torn away, only a few words remaining.] 

The Court Grant unto Yoakim Goyl[torn] by his Atturney Henry 
Bowman; ffoure hundred Acres of Land; warrant Given out 26th 
day 5 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto John ffinch by his Atturney Henry Bowman 
six hundred Acres of Land; warrant Given out 26th day S mo, 1681. 

The differences that are depending betwene Capt John Avery & 
Peter Groundyk Concerning the Account of Capt Avery over Charging 
the said Peter Groundyk, [etc., etc. Signatures torn]. 



COURT RECORDS. 55 

I Mary Simons doe here in the presence of the Lord and you his 
people declare and depos.e upon my Corperall oath that I am free 
and Clear from being under the bonds of Mattrimony to any person 
now Liveinge whatsoever. In wittnes & Testamoney wharof I have 
hereunto sett my hand this seaventh day of the Moneth Called July 
Anno; Dm; 1681; signed Mary Simons 

Sworen befor me 

Wm: Clark. 

Thomas Howard And Mary Simons ware Joyned Together in 
^Marrig by me william Clark one of the Kings Justices of the peace 
for deale County [July 17, 1681, after due publication and in presence 
of several witnesses, not named]. 

[Ard Johnson van Kirk and Grace Bundock married by William 
Clark one of the Kings Justices of the peace, July 28, 1681, after due 
publication "and in presence of several wittneses."] 

Sept. 13 & 14th. 

Att A Court held at Deale for the Towne and County of Deale; 
by the Kings Authori[ty] the 13 th and 14th days of the Moneth Called 
September Anno; Dm; 1681; Commoners present; Luke Wattson John 
Roades John Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of the Case Refered from the Last Court [etc. etc.] John 
Hagester pit, Harmon Corneling deft. 

Alexander Moulston John Hagester Cornelius verhoofe & John 
A-ines Complantants Halmainas wiltbanck deft To be Tryd by bill 
and Answer as A Cause of Equeity. 

Action of Traspass. John Depree pit, Will footcher deft, Corver- 
hoofe sworen. Jureymen — Alex Draper Alex Moulston Cor Johnson 
Mil Chambers will Troter Hen Stracher Robt Johnson Will Townsend 
will prantices Rich Williams John Oakey Robt Traile. 

The Court order and Appoint Alex Draper fachl Gray & william 
footcher to be Survayors of the High ways and bridges; and doe 
hereby order Impower and Authorize them or any or either of them 
to surname In the Inhabitents of this County to mend make and 
repaire the High ways Roades and bridges with in this County; as 
soone as may be. 

The Court Grant unto Richard Stevens by his Atturney Edward 
Southrin six hundred Acres of Land; warrant Given out the 14th, 7 
mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Nortton Claypoole by his Atturney John 
Hill five Hundred Acres of Land; warrant Given out 25th, 11 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Thomas wellborn by his Atturney Henry 
Bowman Eighte hundred Acres of Land; warrant Given out the 10th 
day of the 3 month 1683. 

The Court Grant unto Robert Twelley by his Atturney John vines 
foure hundred Acres of Land. 

The Court fine George young Cunstable for not giveing his Attend- 
ance in Court Two hundred pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court fine John Roades one of the Justices of the peace for this 
County for his absence from Court the 14th day of September 1681; 
the sume of foure hundred pounds of good Marchantable Tobacco (in 
Caske) ; 



56 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

November 8th & 9th, 1681. 

Att a Court Held at Deale for the Towne and County of Deale by 
the Kings Authority the 8th & 9th days of the Moneth Called novem- 
ber Anno; Dm: 1681; Comisconers presents: Luke Wattson John 
Roades William Clark. 

An Action of Debts. Henry Bowman pit, Joseph Browne Deft. In 
Sept. Cotirt the deft being out of the Govermt And his Atturney Capt 
John Avery being sick peticoned the Court for a Reference ; the Court 
there for Grant the deft A reference untill the next Court ; in novmber 
Court the pit declare c&c, and brought in there verdict; that they 
finde that the deft have paid and satisfied the lOOOlb Tob by Capt 
Averys Ingaging for the paymt of it ; and there for finde for the deft 
wt one shill damag and Cost of suit ; the Court passe Judgmt Accord- 
ing to the verdict of the Jurey Alias Execution. Jurey Men Alexander 
Draper William fiootcher Daniell Browne John Smith William Emitt 
John King Simon Parling 

An Action of Debt. Henry Bowman pit, Joseph Browne & Andrew 
Depree defts. John Smith Will Emitt Ri[ch] Williams John King 
Rich Gill Tho Davids Elij Cartle. In Sept Court the defts being out 
of the County And there Atturney Capt John Avery being sick peti- 
coned the Court for A Referance the Court there for Grant the deft A 
Referance untill the next Court ; now in novmber Court the pit declare 
that the defts stands Indebted unto him in one Thousand pounds of 
Tobacco wone of the defts at a horse Race the defts pleaded that they 
wone and Craved A Jurey to Try the Cause; which being Granted 
the bussines was debated on both sides and severall wittneses Ex- 
camined After which the Jurey went out and brought in there verdict 
that they finde for the deft; with Cost of suit; & six pence Damages; 
the Court passe Judgmt According to the verdict of the Jurey ; Alias 
Executcion; Alexander Draper William ffootcher Daniell Browne 
Simon Parling Henry Stracher Thomas Finder Robert Bracey Jurey 
Men. 

An Action of Trespass. Thomas Haward & Wight Haward pits. 
Nathanil Walker deft. Jurey finds for the deft and gives him Twelve 
pence Damages and the Court order Judgmt to be entered according 
to verdict of the Jurey. norton Claypoole Alexander Draper Henry 
Bowman James Welles John Smith Halmainas Wiltbanck William 
ffootcher Robert Bracey John Hill [S]amwell Gray Thomas Finder 
Daniell Browne Jurey Men. 

An Action of the Case. Andrew Depree pit, Thomas Denison deft. 

An Action of the Case. Capt John Avery pit, Ben Coudrey Deft. 

Attachment. Alexander Draper pit, Robert Millenor Deft. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Gunby pit, Capt John Avery Deft. 

An Action of the Case. Bryant Rowles pit, Harmon Cornelison 
deft. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Bowman pit, John Newall Deft. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Bowman pit, James Welles & John 
Newall defts. Jo Croper Tho Finder Robt Johnson Will Rodeney 
& Will Keene. The pit declare that the defts did Contract & Agree 
wt him to Run A horse Race for three Thousand pounds of Tobacco; 
and that he the said pit ded wine; the deft pleaded that the Contract 
was not Confirmed the Cause being debated on both sides and severall 
wittneses Excamined the Cause was Refered to a Jurey; wch went 



COURT RECORDS. 57 

out and brough in there verdict; that they finde for the pit with Cost 
of suit and one shill Damages; and the deft's arest the Judgmt of the 
Court & Craved an Appeale to have the Cause to be Tryd at the next 
Gennarall Court of Assisses at new york befor the Honorable Governor 
and Councell; the vallow being under Twenty pounds the Court Could 
not agree wheather it was Appealeable or not; and soe refered the 
same untill the next Court; there being sunae thing dubous in the 
Testament of the wittneses [The following names are on the margin — ] 
Alexander Draper Samwell Gray Nathanil Walker Daniell Browne 
John Smith Nathanil Bradford Henry Stracher. 

An Action of Debt. John Roades pit, Richard Adkinson deft; with 
drawen by order of the pit. 

An Action of Debt. John Roades pit, Richard Gill Deft, "with 
drawen." 

An Action of Debt. William Clark pit, Robt Williams Deft — ■ 
"refered." 

An Action of Debt. William Clark pit, Thomas Davids Deft — ■ 
"with Drawen." 

An Action of the Case. William Clark pit, Richard Gill Deft — 
"with Drawen." 

An Action of Debt. William Lewis pit, ffrancis Gunby Deft — 
"with Drawen." by order of James Welles the pits Atturney. 

Peticon Henry Harmon Halm Wiltbanck. The peticoner setting 
forth in his peticon that whareas Halm wiltbank recovered Judgment 
of this Court Agt him for Twenty Thousand pounds of Tobacco; for 
the not giveing him the sd Halm wiltbanck possession of the house 
plantacon Land and premisses that Comelie Johnson live upon Accord- 
ing to Contract; and that the sd Halm wiltbanck had no right to let 
the Land to the peticoner ; but that befor that time the sd Halm had 
sold and delivered it to John Kurk there for the peticoner Craved a 
rehearing in the sd Cause; the Court order that it be rehard tomorrow 
and that Halm wiltbanck have nooties of it this night; the next dae 
upon the request of the sd Halm wiltbanck the Cause is refered to by 
Tryd the next Court. 

The Court Grant unto John Davids by his Atturney Thomas Davids 
Two hundred Acres of Land. 

The Court Grant unto John Croper One Thousand Acres of Land; 
warrants Given out the 6th 12 mo, 1681. 

A Deede of sale Accknowlidged in open Court by Edward Southrin 
Atturney to John Outim unto Henry Bowman of A plantacon house 
and Land Lyeing and being near Ceeder Creeke. 

This day Elizajjeth Carter the Late wife of Otto WooUgast deceased 
peticoned the Court to be Admited to Adminnister on the Estate of 
hur deceased Husband; for that the Executrx Appointed in the Will 
by the said Otto Woollgast have nedglected to Adminnister for the 
space of six Moneths and upwards Afer the death of the said Otto 
Woollgast all though they had sone after his death nooties there of 
given unto them and a Copie of the said will; for which Reasons the 
Court doe grant Letters of Adminnistracon unto William Carter and 
Elizabeth his wife; They puting in sufificent securety to the Court to 
give in a true In\-entory of all the Estate goods and Chattels that the 
said Otto Woollgast was possessed of at the time of his Death or just 
befor; and to be accoumptable for the same and pay and satisfie the 



58 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

debts and Leigeses of the said Otto Woollgast According as the Law 
directs in that Case. WiUiam Carter and Ehzabeth his wife have this 
day in open Court proved the Last will and Testament of Otto Wool- 
gast deceased being in wri tinge; which is by the Court ordered to be 
recorded; Justices Luke Wattson John Roades Wm; Clark signed 
the dockett. 

December [l]3th. 

Att A Court Held for the Towne and County of Deale by the Kings 
Authority the 13 th day of the Moneth Called December Anno Dm 
1681. Commisconers present: Luke Wattson John Kiphaven; 
William Clark. 

Plea upon the Case. Capt John Avery pit, Peter Groundyk deft. 

An Action of the Case upon An Attachment. Alex Draper pit, 
Robert Millener deft. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Bowman pit, James welles and 
John newall defts; Wittneses Jo Croper Tho. Pinder Robt John- 
son Will Rodeney & Will Keene. In Novmb. Cot. Jurey Men: Alex 
Draper Samll Gray Nat Walker Danil Brown Jo Smith Nathanil 
Bradford Henry Stracker. 

An Action of Debt. William Clark pit, Robt WilUams Deft; 
"refered" and finally "with drawen." 

Peticon. Henry Harmon Agt, Halm wiltbanck deft; Wittneses 
Ed Southrin Cor Johnson and his wife. The peticoner setting forth 
in his peticon that whare as Halm wiltbank Recovered Judgment 
of this Court Agt him for Twenty Thousand pounds of Tobacco for 
the not giveing him the said Halm wiltbanck possession of the house 
plantacon Land and premisses that Cornells Johnson Lives upon 
According to Contract; And the peticoner setts forth that the sd 
Halm Wiltbanck had no right at that time to Let the said Land to 
the peticoner; But that befor that time the said Halm Wiltbanck 
had sold and delivered the Land and premisses to one John Kurk; 
therefor the peticoner Craved a Rehearing of the said Cause the 
Court ordered that the Cause be Rehard the next day that the shreife 
doe give nooties thereof to the said Halm Wiltbanck that night; the 
next day upon the Request of the said Halm the Cause is Refered 
to be Tryd or Rehard the next Court; In december Court it was 
proved by the oath of Edward Southrin Cor Johnson and his wife; 
That the said Halm Wiltbanck had sold and delivered possession of 
the said Land and premisses by Tufe and Twig unto the sd John 
Kurk; befor the sd Halm Wiltbanck Let to the peticonr the Judg- 
ment of the Court therefor is that the said Halm Wiltbanck had no 
Right or power to Let the said Land to the peticoner; And there- 
fore doe order that the Judgment obtained formerly in this Court 
Agt the peticoner at the suit of the said Halm Wiltbanck be void 
and the peticoner sett at Libirty from his Imprisonment; and that 
the said Halm Wiltbanck doe pay the peticoner his damiages sus- 
tayned; with Cost of suit; Alias Executcion; 

Alexander Moulston pit, Henry Harmon deft — An Action of the 
Case with drawen by order of the pit. 

Thomas Davids pit, Anthony Enlose deft — An .\ction of defamacon 
with drawen by order of the pit. 



COURT RECORDS. 59 

_ An Action of the Case. Capt John Avery pit, ffrancis Gunby deft ; 
wittneses, Thomas Pinder John Bamett & Jane Holiway. [In re. 
to purchase of a horse]. Jurymen: Norton Claypoole Daniell Browne 
Comelis Verhoofe Capt Marsh Robert Bracey WiUiam ffootcher 
John Hill. Qury men's names written on margin]. 

An Action of the Case. Capt Avery pit, fra Gunby deft. \ln re. 
to purchase of "A Clorth of silver peaty Coat" Eleaver or Twelve 
years since]. 

An Action of the Case. Gapt Jo Avery pit, Ben Coudrey deft. 

An Action of the Case. Alex Moulston pit, Thomas Davids deft ; 
"with drawen" by order of the pit. 

An Action of the Case. Alex Moulston pit, Rich Gill Deft; "with 
drawen" by order of the pit. 

An Action of Debt. William Clark pit, Robert Johnson deft; 
" Refered." 

An Action of the Case. Richard Gill pit, Alex Moulston deft. 

An Action of the Case. Richard Gill pit, Alex Moulston deft: non 
suit. 

An Action of the Case. Robert Williams pit, Richard Gill deft; 
"with drawen." 

An Action of the Case. Jacob Shattham pit, Thomas Davids 
deft; "refered." 

An Action of the Case upon A Repleavey. Peter Groundyk pit, ' 
Halm Wiltbanck deft. The pit. declare thaf he Left in the Custidy 
of the deft fiftye three dutch Ells and a halfe of duffells or Trading 
Clorth to sell for the pit [etc.]. 

Hahn Wiltbank pit, Peter Groundyk deft; "refered." 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. Peter Groundyk pit, 
William Carter Adminst, "refered." 

An Action of defamacon or Slander. Mathias Everson pit, John 
oakey & his wife deft; Wittnes william prentice. 

An Action of . ffrancis Rumbolt pit, William Carter Ad- 
mini st to otto wooUgast Estate deft. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Rumbolt pit, Harmon Comelison 
deft; "refered." 

An Action of Debt. John Kiphaven pit, Richard Patte deft; 
"with drawen." 

An Action of Debt. Thomas Atthow pit, Henry Stracher & Wil- 
liam Clark defts; "Refered." 

An Action of Debt. Capt Marton Creagor pit, Anthony Hamen* 
Alias Haverly deft; " Refered." 

Attachment. Harmon Cornelison pit, the Estate of John Shackley 
deceased in the Custidy of Alex Moulston deft ; The Court refer Judg- 
ment. 

A patton of foure Hundred Acres of Land Accknowlidged in 
open Court by James Welles and William Emitt Authorized by 
Mary his wife unto George Young and to his heires and Assignes 
for ever. 

The above patton of foure hundred Acres of Land was Accknowl- 
idged in open Court by Georg Young unto John Jenings and to his 
heires and Assignes for ever. 

* This name sometimes seems to be Hamen and at others like Hancen. 



60 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

A patton of one Thousand Acres of Land Accknowlidged in open 
Court by John depree to Henry Bowman; and to his heires and As- 
signes for ever. 

A deede of Conveyance of the above said parcell of one Thousand 
Acres of Land was this day in open Court signed sealed & delivered 
from John depree to Henry Bowman; upon Condition that the said 
Henry Bowman ded befor the Court Consent and Agree that he his 
Executors Administrators or Assignes ; should never here after expect 
or Compell the said John Depree his heires Executors Administrators 
or Assignes to make the said Land Cleare or free any further then his 
right or any Claiming under him; any thing Contained in the deede 
of Conveyance to the Contraiy notwithstanding. 

Peticon. Joane Streate Agt WilUam Clark. 

A patton of three Hundred Acres of Land Accknowlidged and As- 
signed over in open Court; by William Clark and Honnor his wife 
unto Wilham Dumall; and to his Heires and Assignes for ever. 

The Court Grant unto Luke Wattson Juner upon A peticon put 
into this Court for that purpose; the three Hundred Acres of Land 
that was James Leyes; he paying for the patton; he the said James 
Leyes ne\-er seating or Improving any part of the said Land; ab- 
senting himself out of the Country; if Clear from the Lawfull Claim 
of any other. 

The Court Grant unto William Durnall [Durvall?] of the Citty of 
New York, Merchant One Thousand Acres of Land; warrant Given 
out ye 10th 12 mo; 1681. 

The Court Grant unto John Savidge Eighte hundred Acres of Land ; 
warrant Given out the 10th, 12 mo; 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Abraham Potter three Hundred Acres of 
Land; warrant Given out the 22th 11 mo; 1681. 

The Court Grant unto WiUiam Butler Thurty Acres of Land Ad- 
joyning to his Land allrady taken up; wart Given out ye 6th, 4 mo; 
1682. 

Henry Bowman peticoning the Court and setting forth that he 
ha^-e Lost Two warrant that he had to take up six hundred Acres 
of Land for John Finch and foure hundred Acres of Land for Yoakom 
Goylack the Court doe order the Clark to gi\'e him the peticoner Two 
new warrants upon Conditcon that the other Two which are said to 
be Lost be void and of no Effect; & to be given unto the Clark when 
found if ever thay be. 

This day John Kiphaven proved by his oath that the Estate of 
otto wooUgast deceased standeth Justly Indebted unto him as fol- 
loweth; [etc.]. 

Luke Wattson John Kiphaven Wm; Clark Signed the Dockett. 

Janwary 10th, 1681. 

Att A Court Held for the Towne and County of Deale By the 
Kings Authority the 10th day of the Moneth Called Janwary Anno; 
Dm; 1681; Commiconers present Luke Wattson John Roades 
John Kiphaven William Clark. 

Plea upon the Case. Capt John Avery pit, Peter Groundyk deft; 
the Court Cause an non suit to be entered Agt the pit with Cost of 
suit Alias Execution. 



COURT RECORDS. 61 

An Action of the Case. Capt John Avery pit, Beniamin Coudrey 
deft; Robt Hart senr wittnes & Halm Wiltbanck. 

An Action of Debt; [Tobacco] William Clark pit, Robt Johnson 
deft; Execution given out 10th, 12 mo; 1681. 

[Debt 15X "Bushells" of Indian Corn.] Jacob Shaltham pit, 
Thomas Davids deft. 

An Action of the Case upon a Repleavey. Peter Groundyk pit. 
Halm "Wiltbanck deft; [In re. to same piece of "Clorth" mentioned 
previously.] 

Halm Wiltbanck pit, Peter Groundyk deft. In december Court 
the deft not being here and there not being A full Court of Justices 
without the defts Atturney; the Cause was Refered unto this Court; 
the pit declare that he sent seaven Beavers and A halfe by the deft 
to be deUvered unto Capt Mountveale at new york; which the deft 
owne that he ded not deliver them; According to the pits order the 
Court therefor passe Judgment Agt the deft for the seaven Beavers 
and a halfe with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. Peter Groundyk 
pit, William Carter Adminstrator to otto Woollgast Estate deft; with 
drawen." 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Rumbolt pit, William Carter Ad- 
ministrator to otto Woollgast Estate deft. In december Court the 
pit not being here and there not being A full Court of Justices with- 
out the pits Atturney being John Kiphaven the Cause was Refered 
untill this Court the pit declars that otto Woollgast was Indebted 
unto him upon Account in the year 1674; In the sume of one hun- 
dred sixty six gilders. But the pit not proveing any LawfuU demand 
in all that time of the said sume; and the deft pleades the statute 
of Limentaticon the Court there for order an non suit to be 
entered Agt the pit with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Rumbolt pit, Harmon Cornelison 
deft. * * * The pit declars that the deft stands indebted unto 
him upon Account in the yeare 1674; In the sume of 128 gilders to 
be paid in Beaver * * * [This case is similar to the preceding 
one.] 

An Action of Debt. Thomas Atthow pit, Henry Stracher & William 
Clark defts. In december Court there not being a full Court of Jus- 
tices without one of the defts the Cause was Refered untill this Court 
The pit declare by his Atturney John Hill that the defts stands Justly 
Indebted by there obligacon under there hands and seales in forteene 
Thousand pounds of Tobacco; Conditioned for the makeing a good 
tittel of the Land & premisses that Henry Stracher one of the defts 
now Live upon unto the pit or his Assignes the defts Craves a Referance 
untill the next Court which the Court Grant them. 

An Action of Debt. Capt Marton Creagor pit, Anthony Hamen 
Alias Haverly deft. "Refered." 

Attachment. Harmon Cornelison pit. The Estate of John Shackley 
deceased in the Custidy of Alex Moulston- deft. In december Court 
the pit declare that the Estate of John Shackley deceased stands 
Justly Indebted unto him in seaven hundred sixty five pounds of 
Tobacco Two Beavers in Peltrey And fortye gilders all upon A Judgmt 
obtained in this Court the 13th day of April 1680; Agt the Estate 
of the sd John Shackley deceased as by the records it doth Appear 



62 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

* * * The Court doe still refere passing Judgment for the pit 
untill the next Court. 

An Action of the Case. Samwell Gray pit, Cornelias Creagor deft; 
with drawen by order of the pit. 

An Action of the Case. John Kiphaven pit, William Carter deft; 
with drawen by Consent and the deft to pay Cost of suit. 

An Action of Debt. Richard Bundock pit, William Davids deft; 
with drawen by order of the pit and deft. 

An Action of Debt. Peter Groundyk pit. Halm Wiltbanck deft; 

* * * the defts pleads payment and Craves A Referance untill 
the next Court to prove the same which the Court Grant. 

Upon the Complaint of Parritt the Indian Shackamacker AUeadg- 
ing that Henry . Bowman and others takes his Lands and gives him 
no satisfacon for it; the Court doe therefor order that every person 
that seate any Land shall pay unto the Indian proprietor for every 
parcell of Land of six hundred Acres or under one Match Coote and if 
a bove six hundred Acres Two Match Cootes; And that at the time 
of the Indian Receiveing the Coote or Cootes to Convey the sd Land 
to the person that he receive the sd Coote or Cootes of; And if any 
person doe or shall refuse to pay the Indians for the Land as a forsaid; 
Executcon to be given out for the same directed to the shreife to Exe- 
cute and pay to the Indian. 

William Townsend peticon Agt Halm Wiltbanck. The peticoner 
setts forth that he moved brought and sett up 450 Logs on the Towne 
Lotts Intending to fence and plant there by the defts sence which the 
deft have carried the Logs or part of them away & Converted them 
to his own use; the peticoner therfor Craves order of this Court for 
his Labour; it is agreed by the peticoner and the deft that he shall 
have what he sold to A\'ilHam [donneall?] and no more. 

The Court fines John Barnett fifty pounds of Tobacco for smocking 
Tobacco in the Court. 

The Court Grant unto William Clark five hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out the 6th, 12 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Thomas Pemberton Eighte hundred Acres 
of Land; warrant given out the 6th, 12 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Phillip Morrise one hundred Acres of Land 
more then what he had a grant for befor; warrant Given out 10th 
11 mo, 1681; for the whole. 

The Court Grant unto williara page foure hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out the 11th 11 mo, 1681 

Luke Wattson John Roades John Kiphaven Wm. Clark Signed 
the Dockett. 

Ffebruary 14th, 1681. 

Att a Court Held att Deale for the Towne and County of Deale 
by the Kings Authority the 14th day of the Moneth Called ffebruary 
Anno; Dm; 1681. Commisconers present: Luke Wattson, John 
Roades, John Kiphaven,, William Clark. 

An Action of Debt. Thomas Atthow pit, Henry Stracher & Will- 
iam Clark defts. In December Court there not being a full Court 
of Justices without one of the defts; the Cause was refered untill 
Janwry Court at which time the pit declared by his Atturney John 
Hill That the defts Stands Justly Indebted unto the pit by there obli- 



COURT RECORDS. 63 

gacon under there hands & seales in forteene Thousand pounds of 
good sound Merchantable Tobacco in Caske; Conditconed for the 
Makeing good tittel of the Land & premisses that Henry Stracher 
one of the defts now Live upon; unto the pit or his Assignes; the defts 
Craves a referance unto this Court which the Court Granted them; 
this Court the defts promiseing to Asure and Convey the said Land 
befor the next Court the Cause is therefor by the Court refered untill 
the next Court. 

An Action of Debt. Capt Martton Creagor pit, Anthony Hamen 
alias Haverle deft. [By Consent of pit, refered from Dec. Court to 
Jan., and from Jan. Court to March Court.] 

An Action of Debt upon An Attachment. Harmon Cornelison 
pit, the Estate of John Shackley deceased in the Custice of Alex Moul- 
ston deft. * * * the Court ded Refere passing Judgmt untill 
this Court whare the Administrator was three times called and he 
or they not Appearing the Court passe Judgment for the pit Agt the 
EfEects of the said John Shackley deceased that is in the Custidy of 
the said Alex Moulston being one Thousand one hundred and fortye 
pounds of Tobacco Alias Executcon. 

An Action of Debt. Peter Groundyke pit, Halm Wiltbanck deft. 

An Action of Debt, ffrancis Gunby pit, Richard Lawes deft; 
["non-suit"]. 

An Action of ye Case. Halm Wiltbanck pit, Anthony Hamen deft; 
["refered untill the next Court"]. 

An Action of the Case. Anthony Hamen pit, Comelis Johnson 
deft; the pit and deft being prevented from Coming by reason of 
bad weather the Court order that the Cause be refered untill the next 
Court. 

An Action of the Case. Nortton Claypoole pit, John Oakey Deft; 
["refered untill the next Court"]. 

An Action of the Case. Richard Bundock pit, Cornelis Johnson 
deft; ["with Drawen"]. 

An Action of Debt. Nortton Claypoole pit, John Johnson Senr 
Deft; ["Judgmt for the pit * * * with Cost of suit Alias Exe- 
cution"]. 

Action of the Case. William Carter Adminstrator to the Estate 
of Otto WooUgast deceased Pit, Robert Johnson Deft; [Judgmt for 
the pit * * * with Cost of suit Alias Execution;"]. 

An Action of Trasspasse upon the Case. Luke Wattson Pit, Henry 
Skidemor deft; wittnes Hen Smith & Hen Bowman. The pit de- 
clare that he was possessed of a Tract of Land on Slatter neck; and 
that the deft ded Cutt his trees and timber and Committed A Trass- 
pase on the Pits Land to the daimag of the Pit five and Twenty 
pounds sterl money the deft by his Atturney Edward Southrin pleads 
that the sd Lands is the defts, the Cause is put to the triall of A 
Jurey which went out and after debate Brought in there verdict 
that they find for the Pit with Twelve pence daimg and Cost of suit 
the Court passe Judgmt for the Pit According to the verdict of the 
Jurey Alias Execution. Jurey men — Halm Wiltbanck Samwell Gray 
John Hill Edward Williams William Carter Alex Moulston William 
Rodeney. 

An Action of Trasspasse upon the Case. Henry Bowman pit, 
Alexander draper deft; wittnes Cor verhoofe Henry Smith Junr 



64 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Harmon Comelison. The pit declares that the deft have Committed 
a Traspass upon his Land by Cutting his trees and Timber; the deft 
pleades that the Land is his the Cause is put to a Jurey which went out 
and brought in there verdict; the pit being three times Called in Court 
and not Appearing suffered an non suit; Jury men Halm wiltbank 
Sam Gray John Hill will Carter Alexander Moulston John depree 
William Rodeney. 

An Action of Debt. Henry Smith Pit, daniell Browne deft; ["re- 
fered untill the next Court;"]. 

An Action of Debt. Henry Smith Pit, Will Clark deft; ["refered 
untill the next Court' ']. 

The Court fines William Rodeney fifty pounds of Tobacco for smock- 
ing Tobacco in the Court. 

The Court Grant unto James Gray one Thousand Acres of Land 
warrant given out the same day. 

The Court Grant unto John Maccomb five hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out the same day. 

The Court Grant unto Alex Moulston five hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out the same day. 

John Roades have to this day pay due to him for foure woolfes 
heads. 

The Court Grant unto Thomas Hassold foure hundred Acres of 
of Land; warrant Given out ye 25 12 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto Robert Warrin three hundred Acres of Land 
warrant Given out 15th Insint. 

The Court Grant unto Thomas dunton six hundred Acres of Land 
warrant Given out the 15th Insint. 

The Court Grant unto John Hill Two Hundred Acres of Land to 
be aded to his former grant of three hundred Acres; wart given out 
the 24th 12 mo, 1681. 

The Court Grant unto John Kiphaven five hundred Acres of Land 
warrant Given out the same day. 

The Court Grant unto William Rodeney five hundred Acres of 
Land warrant Given out the same day. 

* * * unto Nortton Claypoole — 500 acres — warrant 27th 12 
mo, 1681. 

* * * unto Robert Hudson — 500 acres — ^warrant 31th 11 mo, 
1682. 

- * * * unto William Trippoth — 300 acres — warrant 31th 11 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Samwell Gray — 500 acres — warrant 6th 11 mo, 16S2. 

* * * unto Richard Lawes — 200 acres — warrant 24th 12 mo, 
1681 ; ["to be Aded to his former Grant of three hundred Acres;"]. 

A deede of Conveyance of 150 Acres of Land in Kickoutneck past 
and AccknowHdge by Anthony Inlose unto John Kiphaven and to 
his heires and assignes forever. 

A deed of Conveyance of three hundred Acres of Land in Kickout 
neck past and Accknowlidged by Alex Moulston & Robert Trayle 
unto John Kiphaven and to his heires and Assignes for ever. 

* * * unto Edward Williams — 500 Acres — warrant 24th 12 
mo, 1681. 

"A patton and Conveyance" of 196 Acres "this day Assigned by 
Luke Wattson unto Samwell Gray," etc., "being the Land Called 



COURT RECORDS. 65 

St Giles Lyeing in a neck Called Parritts neck Adjoyning unto the 
Land ofDaniell Browne near Pagan Creeke;" 

Upon the peticon of Henry Skidemor for a new Trial in the Cause 
that was this day trid betwene Luke Wattson and the petr the Court 
doe grant order that if the peticoner please he may have a new trial 
the next Court. 

Ordered by the Court that the Certivecates that Cornells verhoofe 
this day presented to the Court to be signed Allowed by the Court 
being now in the Custidy of the Clark; be Certified and signed save 
onely that of Nathanil Walker that hath took in the house plantacon 
and Land that Thomas and night Haward Live upon seated and have 
a patton for it and one of Stephen whetmans that doe take away the 
previlidg of John Kiphaven goeing to the Marsh onely excepted. 

Luke Wattson the presedent of this Court enters his desent as to 
the order of a non Trial betwene himself e and Henry Skidemore. 

Luke Wattson John Roades John Kiphaven William Clark, Signed 
the Dockett. 

The persons under named ware fined by the Court for not working 
in the High ways after Leagaly warned there unto as foUoweth ; 

Tobacco. Tobacco 

William Durvalls man 100 lb Will Page 050 lb 

John Roades 100 Comelis Johnson 050 

John Kiphaven 100 Richard Patte 050 

WilUam Clark 100 Daniell Browne 050 

Alex Moulston 100 Thomas denison 050 

Nortton Claypoole 100 Thomas Streacher 050 

Henry Bowman 100 Robert Johnson 050 

John HiU 100 Barnwell Jackson 050 

William ffootcher 200 ffrancis Gunby 050 

Will Emitt 050 Thomas Hassold 050 

:\Iathias Everson 050 Robert Mudock 050 

Richard Shoulter 050 Thomas Haward 050 



1150 600 

March 14th, ISth, 1681. 

Att A Court Held at Deale for the Towne and County of Deale 
By the Kings Authority the 14th and 15th days of the Moneth Called 
March Anno Dm: 1681-82; Justices present; Luke Wattson John 
Roades John Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of Debt. Thomas Atthow pit, Henry Stracher and Wil- 
ham Clark defts. [Cause refered from December Court last past 
untill Janwary Court; * * * when the defts Craved A referance 
untill febuary Court. * * * In Feburey Court the defts promising 
to Asure and Convey the sd Land befor or at the next Court; the 
Cause was therefor by the Court Refered untill this Court; at which 
time the said Land and premisses was Conveyed & Asured unto 
nortton Claypoole the Assignes of the pit; whare for the pit Atturney 
with drawes the Action; in open Court; by Consent of the defts.] 

An Action of Debt. Capt Marton Creagor Pit, Anthony Hancen 
Alias Haverly deft. [Refered from December Court untill Janwary 
Court; then untill March Court; and in March Court the sd Cause 



66 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

was by Consent of the Pit Atturney Cor Verhoofe Refered untill the 
next Court.] 

An Action of Debt. Peter Groundyk pit, Halm Wiltbanck deft. 
The Cause having been refered from both the "Jan wary" Court and 
the "febuary" Court, is now-in the March Court "refered untill the 
next Court." 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, Anthony Hamen 
deft. * * * the deft being prevented by bad wheather from 
Coming to [the February] Court; the Court refered the Cause untill 
this Court [when it was tried by Jury — verdict — the pit had no Cause 
of Action — and Should pay Cost of suit]. Alias Execution. Jurey 
men — [E]d Williams Jos Barsteede Danll Browne [H]en Stracher 
will Rodeney Andrew depree [J]ohn depree. ■ 

An Action of the Case. Anthony Hamen Pit, Cornells Johnson 
deft. In febuary Court the Pit and deft being prevented from 
Coming to the Court by reasion of bad wheather * * * [refered 
untill this Court] * * * Court order an non suit to be entered 
for the deft Agt the pit wt Cost of suit Alias Executon. 

An Action of the Case, nortton Claypoole Pit, John oakey deft. 
[Referred from Feb. Court to this Court; the Action now "with 
drawen."] 

An Action of Debt. Henry Smith Pit, Daniell Browne deft. In 
febuary Court the deft being out of the County his wife Craved A 
Reference untill this Court and this Court the pit declared by his 
Atturney Thomas Hassold that the deft stands Indebted unto him 
in one Thousand seaven hundred and fiftye pounds of pork; the deft 
promise to pay the sd sume by the next Court and Craved a referance 
untill then which the Court Granted. 

An Action of Debt. Henry Smith pit, William Clark deft. [From 
Feb. Court, and now withdrawn.] 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, ffrancis Gunby deft. 
[Judgment for the Pit Agt the deft for the said sume of 876tb of To- 
bacco with Cost of suit; Alias Execution.] 

An Action of the Case. William Trotter Pit, Edward Southrin 
deft; the pit declare that the deft ded stop and detayne his working 
Tooles and a Cart wheale & other goods the Court doe order that 
the deft doe forth with deliver unto the pit his said Tooles wheale 
and other goods with Cost of suit AUas Execution. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Gunby pit. Halm wiltbanck deft; 
* * * the Court therefor passe Judgment for the pit Agt the deft 
■for the said sume of 940 lb of Tobacco with Cost of suit Alias Exe- 
cution. 

Henry Skidemore pit or peticoner Agt Luke Wattson; * * * 
the Court order an non suit to be entered Agt the pit with Cost of 
suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case. Capt John Avery pit, Richard Patte deft; 
["with drawen in open Court"]. 

An Action of the Case. Halm wiltbanck Pit, Henry Bowman deft; 
[non suit entered]. 

An Action of Debt. William Clark Pit, John Hagester deft; [Judg- 
ment for pit]. 

An Action of the Case. William Darvall Pit, Cornells Johnson 
deft; [Judgment for pit]. 



COURT RECORDS. 67 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, William Townsend 
deft; [with drawn in open Court]. 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. William Clark Pit, 
James Welles Estate in Custidy of Alex draper deft. 

An Action of the Case upon An Attachment. William Darvall Pit, 
James Welles Estate in Custidjr of Alex Draper deft; [' ' with drawen "]. 

An Action of Trasspase and Ejectment. Henry Bowman Pit, 
Alex Draper deft; ["with drawen"]. 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. William Clark Pit, 
Daniell Browne Estate in the sd Pits hands deft; * * * the 
Cause is refered untill the next Court. 

An Action of Debt. John Hagester Pit, William Emitt deft. Re- 
fered untill the next Court. 

The Court Grant unto William Keninge three hundred Acres of 
Land; wart Given out the 11th 2 mo, 1682. 

The Court Grant unto Jacob Shattain Three hundred Acres of 
Land; Warrant Given out the 15th Insint. 

* * * untoWilliamWargent, 300 Acres; Warrant 2 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto William Dunton, 400 Acres; Warrant 18 1 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Daniell Darby, 600 Acres; Warrant 11 2 mo, 1682. 
renewed ye 11th 7 br, 86. 

* * * unto Thomas Hall, 600 Acres; Warrant 11th 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto John vines, 400 Acres; Warrant 2th 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Jeffrey Sumerford, 300 Acres; Warrant 2th 2 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Richard Tendall, 400 Acres; Warrant 2th 2 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Samwell Heights, 400 Acres; Warrant 2th 2 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Robert foster, 900 Acres; Warrant 18th 1 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Robert Burtton, 600 Acres; by Baptis newcomb; 
Warrant 5th 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Abraham Potter, 300 Acres; Warrant 4th 2 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Henry Moulston, 500 Acres; Warrant the same day. 

* * * unto John Barrows, 400 Acres; Warrant same day ; Wart 
given out 18th 1 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Harcklos Sheepard, 300 Acres; Wart 16th day of 
same mo. 

* * * unto Richard Har\'ey, 300 Acres; Wart 2th 8 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto John Townsend, 500 Acres; Wart same day. 

* * * unto Thomas Besent, 500 Acres;' Wart same day. 

The Court Grant unto Edward Southrin the three hundred Acres 
of Land that was Edward Cooks if free from the Lawf uU . Claime of 
all other persons; warrant Given out the same day. 

* * * unto John Roades, five hundred Acres; wart 18th / 
1 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Michell Chambers, 300 Acres; wart 10th 2 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Francis Gunby, 400 Acres; wart 4th 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto John Depree, 300 Acres; wart 9th 3 mo. 1682. 

* * * unto Jacob Depree, 300 Acres; wart 9th 3 mo, 1682. 
i * * * unto Halm Wiltbanck, 500 Acres; wart 18th' 1 mo, 1682. 



68 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Court Grant unto William Planer one Thousand Acres of Land 
upon Slatter neck whare Henry Skidemore now Live on Condition 
that he takes into his survey no Land that any other person have any 
Lawfull Claim unto; Warrant given out the Sth 8th mo, 1683. 

* * * unto Cornells verhoofe, 1000 Acres; Warrant 2th 2 mo, 82. 

* * * unto Henry Stracher, 800 Acres; Warrant 18 Insint. 

A patton & Conveyance of Land being six hundred Acres Accknowl- 
idged in open Court by John depree unto John Saviadge and to his 
heires and Assignes forever. 

John oakey Peticoner. The peticoner sett forth that severall per- 
sons are Indebted unto him for sarveing of warrt when he was Con- 
stable and Craves that the fees that are due to him may be taken By 
distrase ; which the Court Grant ; According to the Laws of the Go ver- 
ment. 

Joshua Barsteade Peticoner Agt John vines Shreife. The peticoner 
setting forth that he was unjustly Accused & Imprisoned for being 
A Confeaderate with Trayters And A Concealer of Treasion for which 
Crimes he was Cleared by the Court from being Guilty; not with- 
standing John vines Shreife doe threaten to distrayne for his prison 
fees upon the debate of the matter the Court find that the warrant 
that the peticoner was committed upon was not According to Law 
the Court doe therefor order that the sd Shreif doe not take any fees 
of the peticoner for his said Imprissonment. 

Wm. fiEootcher Peticoner Agt John Johnson Junr. The peticoner 
sett forth that he disbursted five hundred pounds of Tobacco for the 
deft to save him from Corporall ponishment the Last year; and that 
he ran the Hasard of Looseing it if the said deft should a done other 
ways then well; the Court doe therefor order that the deft doe pay 
unto the pit six hundred pounds of Tobacco with Cost of suit Alias 
Execution. 

A patton and Conveyance of Land Accknowlidged in open Court 
by Halmainas Wiltbanck unto Nortton Claploope [sic]; the sd Land 
Lyeing and Being Betwene the Land of william Clark and Luke 
wattson at the Towne of Deale; And at the same time nortton Clay- 
poole doe promise and Ingage to Convey and a sure unto Anthony 
Hamen Alias Haverly Twenty Acres of the afor said Land; which 
was sold by Henry Stracher and is now in the possession of the sd 
Anthony Hamen alias haverly. 

Robert Hignett Peticoner Agt william footcher. The peticoner 
sett forth that he put his sun An Apprantices with william footcher 
for Tenn yeares and that the deft was oblidgd and did give unto his said 
Apprantices an Heffer; and that the said Apprentices being sence 
dead the peticoner Craves an order for the said Heffer to be and 
remayne to the next Heires at Law, and the deft refusing to give his 
oath that he gave the Heffer to the sd servant the Court doe order that 
the peticoner shall have his request and that the deft doe deliver the 
said Heffer to the peticoner for the use of the next Heire at Law being 
the sd sarvants youngest Brother with Cost of suit and the sd Heffer 
and hur encrease to be to the onely proper use and behoofe of the sd 
heire at Law for ever. 

The Grand Jurey present Barnwell Jackson and william Trotter 
for falling A Tree in the Kings High ways for which the Court fine 
them ffiftye povmds of Tobacco; Betwene them. 



COURT RECORDS. 69 

The Grand Jurey present John oakey for haveing a Strang Child 
at his house which is not Certainly knowen whoes it is ; Henry Bowman 
doe Ingage to save the County Harmless from being put to any Charge 
for the maintaining of the said Child. 

It is agreed and Concluded upon by the Court and Alexandr Moulston 
as foUoweth; that from the first day of this moneth the said Alexandr 
Moulston shall have to his owne proper use all the Amacements that 
doe from that day becom due to the Court for one whole yeare; and 
that the said AUix Moulston doe Ingage to find and allow the Justices 
of this Court for the time being and there freinds and strangers with 
house roome and diett And one gallon of Rum and wine for every 
Court during the said year. 

April 11th, 1682. 

Att A Court Held at Deale for the Towne and County of Deale by 
the Kings Authority the 11th day of the Moneth Called April Anno; 
Dom; 1682, Commiconers present Luke Wattson John Roades John 
Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of debt. Capt Marton Creagor pit, Anthony Hamen 
Alias Haverla deft. [The Cause refered from month to month since 
December and now until the June Court. Pits Attorney — Corn 
verhoofe.] 

An Action of Debt. Peter Groundyk Pit, Halm Wiltbanck. [Refered 
from the different Courts since January. Now "with drawen".] 

An Action of Debt. Capt Henry Smith Pit, daniell Browne deft. 
[Since "febuary Court." Alias Execution.] 

An action of the Case. William Clark Pit, daniel Browns Estate 
in the defts hands deft; [referred until June Court]. 

An Action of Debt. John Hagester Pit, William Emitt deft ; [' ' with 
drawen"]. 

An Action of the Case. Halm wiltbanck pit, Henry Bowman deft; 

* * * the deft not being well and the weather not being fitt to 
Travile in; the Court grant the deft Referance until! the next Court. 

An Action of the Case. William footcher Pit, Robert Hignett deft; 

* * * but the weatther not being fitt to Travile in; the Court 
Grant the deft A referance untill the next Court. 

Traspasse of the Case. Baptis newcomb Pit, John Daniell deft; 
Wittneses Cor verhoofe Robt Bracey Junr Rich Shoulter. The pit 
declares that the deft did on or about the 21th day of the Moneth 
Called March Last past make a forceable Entrey into the pits house 
and by force of Arms hath and still and still doth keepe the pit out of 
his house and from making A Crop on the said Land; to his damiag 
fortye pounds sterl money; The Pit proved by the oath of Cornelis 
verhoofe that he surveyed the sd Land by vertue of A warrant from 

this Court for the Pit on or about the and the other Two wettneses 

Robt Bracey Junr and Rich Shoulter swore that the Deft did by force 
keepe the pit out of his said house; the deft pleaded by his Atturney 
Capt John Avery that his Master nathanil Bradford have A right to 
the sd Land, and Craved a referance untill the next Court to prove 
the same. 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. Capt Tho. dellavall 
pit, Capt Henry Smith deft. The Pit declare by his Agent William 
Rodeney * * * ["with drawen"]. 



70 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

An Action of the Case. Peter Groundyk Pit, Corn verhoofe deft. 
The Pit declares that the deft stands Justly Indebted unto him in one 
Thousand nine hundred fiftye one gilders and fifteene stivers of 
wampon upon Account produced in Court the deft Craved A Referance 
untill the next Court; the Court grant the deft A refernce untill the 
next Court; with drawen. 

An Action of the Case. Peter Groundyk pit, Corn verhoofe Deft. 
The Pit declares that the deft stand Justly Indebted unto him in six 
Cows with Calfe or Calves by there sides; which the deft sold for the 
Pit Att a vandue as vandue master and that the deft hath not paid the 
Pit for the same or giA-en him any Account to whome the same ware 
sold; the deft plead that he have not his wittneses in a radynes to 
Answer this Court, and there for Craves a referance untill the next 
Court; which the Court Grant; with drawen. 

An Action of the Case. William Darvall Pit, Henry Bowman deft. 
The Pit declares that the deft stand Justly Indebted unto him in 
Twenty foure pounds Dutch waight of dear skins and in [money or 
peltrey, in Indian Corn, Pork and Tobacco] * * * the Court 
granted a referance untill the next Court ; at the deft request by his 
potcion [being ill]. 

An Action of debt. Cornells verhoofe Pit, Peter Groundyk deft; 
Wittnes John vines & Halmanis Wiltbanck. The Pit declars that 
the deft stands Indebted unto him in three hundred nintye Two 
pounds of Tobacco; by soe much the deft received of the Pit of John 
Roades and past his bill to bring or send the produce in Linen from 
new York * * *. 

An Action of debt. Capt nathanil Walker, Assine of Henry Able 
Pit, Peter Groundyk deft. The Pit declare by his Atturney Cornells 
verhoofe that the deft stands Indebted unto him in * * * as 
Assine of Henry Able by bill then produced in Court. * * * the 
Court order an nonsuit to be entered Agt the Pit with Cost Alias 
Execution. 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, Henry Bowman 
deft. With drawen by order of the Pit and the shreife it being a 
mistake in a resting the deft upon Two wretts for one and 'the same 
debt. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Stracher Pit, Peter Groundyk deft; 
[referred until next Court]. 

An Action of the Case. John King Pit, Will ffootcher deft. The 
Pit declars that the deft stands Indebted unto him in foure Cows and 
the encrease of them for seaven years; the deft deneys it; and the 
Pit not proveing his declaracon or any part of it the Court order an 
non suit to be entered Agt the Pit with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case. Edward Williams Pit, Halm Wiltbanck 
deft. * * * The Court ordered an non suit to be entered Agt 
the Pit with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

P'eticoner. William ffootcher Agt John King. The peticoner sett 
forth that the deft did promise and agree to Asure and Convey unto 
the Pit the three hundred Acres of Land that the peticoner Live upon 
ye deft haveing recei\'ed satisfacon for the same; the deft not Ap- 
pearing the Court refer the Cause untill the next Court; with drawen. 

Cornells verhoofe Agt Peter Groundyk by way of fire facous; ["re- 
fered untill the next Court"]. 



COURT RECORDS. 71 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, francis Gunby deft; 
["referance untill the next Court; " "with drawen"]. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Gunby Pit, Halm Wiltbanck deft; 
[" Refered * * * untill ye next Court, with drawen"]. 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, Peter Groundyk 
deft. The pit declars that the deft stands Indebted unto him in 
six hundred sixty six pounds of Tobacco; by taking and Converting 
to his owne use soe much of the pit Tob; of and from the plantacon 
that Cornells Johnson now Live upon being about Two years Last 
past; * * * ["Refered"]. 

The Court Grant unto Simon Parling five hundred Acres of Land; 
Wart Given out 13th 2 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Thomas Hasell, 300 Acres; Warrant 17th Insint. 

* * * unto Charles Spooner, 300 Acres; Warrant 12th Insint. 

The Court Grant unto Capt John Avery the Island Lyeing in Re- 
hover Bay Adjoyning unto the land that the sd Capt Avery now 
Live upon & to be surveyed and Aded to his Land he live on; wart 
given out the 16tli In.sint. 

The Court Grant unto Joseph Lowe three hundred Acres of Land; 
wart Given out the 7th 7 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto ffrancis Henry, 500 Acres; Warrant 12th 3 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Mathew Taylor, 500 Acres; Warrant 9th 3 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto Rich Kockshall, 300 Acres; Warrant 16 Insint. 

* * * unto Stephen Whetman, 600 Acres; Warrant "the same 
day." 

* * * unto david Corsey, 300 Acres; Warrant "the same day." 
Comelis verhoofe peticon the Court that he may have an order 

of Court to Attache the Estate of Rich dawson for his Clarks and 
surveyors fees which are due to him; which the Court Grant unto 
the peticoner. 

Nathanil Bradford peticons that he may have A warrant to sur- 
vey the Twelve hundred Acres of Land into one survey that he bought 
of John Hagester which the Court Grant unto the peticoner; wart 
given out 13th 4 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Thomas Hassold, 200 Acres "to be Aded unto 
his former grant; wart Given out 12th Insint. 

* * * unto William Emitt, 400 Acres; Warrant 12th Insint. 

* * * unto William Simons, 300 Acres; Warrant 11th 3 mo, 
1682. 

* * * unto John Clark, 500 Acres; Warrant 17th Insint, to 
John Townsend. 

* * * unto Henry Eubanck, 300 Acres; Warrant 17th In- 
sint, to Tho besent. 

The Court Grant unto Peter Groundyk A Calld Court to be held 
to morrow the 12 Insint to Try & determin the 2 Causes that are de- 
pending Betwene the said Peter Groundyk pit and Cornells verhoofe 
deft that ware this day refered to the next Court. 

The Court order the Clark to draw up An Account of the Amace- 
ments that are due to the Court; and to deliver it to the shreife and 
the Court doe order the shreife forth with After it Com in to his hands 
to take the same by disstrase; or other ways to take the severall 



\ 



72 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

parsons bills for the payment of the severall sumes the 10th day of 
October next. 

April 12th, 1682. 

Att A Calld Court Held at Deale by the Kings Authority the 12th 
day of the Moneth Called April Anno: Dm; 1682. Commiconers 
present, Luke Wattson, John Roades, John Kiphaven, william Clark. 

An Action of the Case. Peter Groundyk pit, Cornells verhoofe 
deft. The pit declars that the deft stands Indebted unto him in 
one Thousand nine hundred fiftye one gilder and fifteene stivers of 
wampon * * * the Court pass Judgmt for the pit * * * Alias 
Execution; Execution given out same day Agt the body of the deft. 

An Action of the Case. Peter Groundyk pit, Cornells verhoofe 
deft. The pit declars that the deft tooke upon him selfe to sell six 
Cows of the pits for him as vandue Master which the deft have given 
the pit no Account or satisfacon for the said Cattell; the deft pleads 
that the Cattell that he sold at A vandue was none of the pits but 
that they ware at that time Capt John Averys. The pit proved by 
the oath of John vines shreife that five of the Cows that was sold 
at the vandue by the deft; was the Cattell of the pits. * * * 
[Judgment for the pit.] 

May 10th, 1682. 

Att A Calld Court Held at Deale by the Kings Authority the 10th 
day of the Moneth Called May Anno; Dm; 1682. Commiconers pres- 
ent Luke Wattson John Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of the Case. Cornells verhoofe pit, Peter Groundyk 
deft. The pit declare that the deft stands Indebted unto him in 
seaven hundred ninty three gilders and Twelve stivers by an Account 
produced in Court. * * * [Judgment for the pit.] 

An Action of the Case. Cornells verhoofe pit, Peter Groundyke 
deft. The pit declars that the deft stand Indebted unto him in 
seaven hundred ninty one gild upon Account produced in Court Agt 
the deft; being mostly for Atturneys fees and work done a bout his 
sloop; the deft haveing nedgiexted to take A Copie of the said Ac- 
count from the Clark; Craves of the Court that he may have Two 
or three hours time to vew the said Account befor he pleads to it; 
which the Court Granted unto the deft; and the deft had the Ac- 
count delivered to him According to his request and after he had 
vewed it returne into the Court and pleaded that the pit promise 
that he would not take any Atturney fees of the deft for the manigmt 
of his affairs and that for the worke he had done about the defts sloop 
he had pd the pit for it; but did not prove his plea; the Court finding 
that the pit have Charged to much in his sd Account for Atturneys 
fees; the Court Allow him onely foure hundred Gilders for his At- 
turneys fees; and the rest of the said Account being fiftye one Gilders 
the pit swaring to it ; the Court passe Judgment for the pit. * * * 
with Cost of suit Alias Executcion. 

An Action of the Case. Cornells verhoofe pit, Peter Groundyk 
deft. The pit declare that the deft stands Indebted to him * * * 
[Tobacco, part of which being an Assigned bill of Henry Able to 
nathanil walker * * * Judgment for pit * * * with cost 
of suit; Alias Execution. 



COURT RECORDS. 73 

An Action of the Case. Cornelis verhoofe Pit, Peter Groundyk 
deft. The Pit declare that the deft Imployed him to sell at A vandue 
severall Cows; and that the deft sued the Pit in this Court and re- 
covered Judgment of Court Agt the Pit for the Effects that the sd 
Cows ware sold at; being fine Cows; and the deft tooke out Execu- 
tion upon the sd Judgment of Court and Charged the same on the 
body of the pit; not withstanding the deft have received of John Hill 
Eighte hundred Twenty one pounds of Tobacco at halfe a peney ^~^ 
lb. in part of payment of one of said fine Cows which was sold for 
fortye seaven shillings; and one of the said fine Cows the deft bought 
at the vandue himself e at 33 shill both which' the deft owne in Court; 
the Court therefor passe Judgment for the Pit Agt the deft for the 
said sumes of Eighte hundred Twenty one pounds of Tobacco at 
halfe peney ^ lb. and one pound thurteene shill with cost of suit 
Alias Execution. 

The Court fine Peter Groundyke for smoking Tobacco in the Court 
fiftye pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court fine Cornelis verhoofe for smoking Tobacco in Court 
fiftye pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court fine Mathias vandehyden for smoking Tobacco in the 
Court fiftye pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court order Cornelis verhoofe to receive of Peter Groundyk 
the Amacemts due to the Court from the said Peter Groundyk in 
the time that the said Cornelis verhoofe was Clark of this Court And 
upon non payment on demand Execution is to Issue out Agt the 
said Peter Groundyk for the sd Amacements of Court; Ahas Execu- 
tion; and the sd Corn verhoofe to be Accountable to the Court for 
what he shall receive. 

Cornelis verhoofe produceing in Court An Account Agt Peter 
Groundyk for Clarks fees being the sume of one Thousand three 
hundred Twenty seaven gilders due to him for fees in the time that 
he was Clark of this Court; and Craves an Execution Agt the said 
Peter Groundyk for the said sume; (the Court Excamining the petic- 
lors Charged in the said Account for Clark fees) doe order that if 
the said Peter Groundyk doe not pay the said sume on demand that 
then Execution shall be given out Agt the said Peter Groundyk for 
the said sume of one Thousand Three hundred Twenty seaven gilders. 

June 13th, 14th, 1682. 

Att A Court Held at Deale for the Towne and County of Deale 
By the Kings Authoritye the 13 th and 14th days of the Moneth 
Called June, Anno; Dm; 1682. Commiconers present: Luke Wattson 
John Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of Debt. Capt Marton Creagor Pit, Anthony Hamen 
Alias Haverla deft; [Cornelis verhoofe the Pits Atturney. "The 
Cause was refered" from the December Court, appearing each month, 
and now is " Refered * * * untill the next Court"]. 

An Action of the Case. William Clark Pit, Daniell Browne Estate 
in the Pit hands Deft; [Carried over from March Court, and now 
"Judgment is Refered untill September Court"]. 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, Henry Bowman Deft. 
In April Court * * * the deft not Being well and the weather 
not being fitt to Travile in; the Court Grant the deft A Referance 



74 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

untill June Court; and in June Court the Pit ordered lihat the Action 
be with drawen. 

An Action of the Case. WiUiam footcher Pit, Robert Hignett Deft. 
In Ap Court * * * the weather not being fitt to Travil in the 
Court Grant the deft A Referance untill this Court. * * * soe 
that the Court passe Judgmt for the Pit * * * .^rith Cost of 
suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of Traspass of the Case. Baptis newcomb Pit, John 
Daniell Deft. Wittneses Robt Bracey senr Robt Bracey Junr John 
Johnson senr Rich Shoulter Mathias Everson. In April Court 
the Pit declared that the deft did on or about the 21th day of Moneth 
Called March Last past make a forceable entery into the Pit house 
and by force of Arms hath and still doth keepe the Pit out of his 
house ; and from makeing A Crop on the said Land to the Pit damiag 
ffortye pounds sterling money; the Pit proved by the oath of Corn 
verhoofe that he surveyed the said Land by vertue of A wart ob- 
tained from this Court for the Pit on or about the moneth of Decem- 
ber Last past; And the other Two wittneses Robt Bracey Junr and 
Richard Shoulter sware that the deft did by force keepe the Pit out 
of his sd house; the deft pleaded by his Atturney Capt John Avery 
that his master nathanil Bradford have a right to the said Land; 
And Craves A Reference untill the next Court to prove the same 
which the Court Granted; In June Court the deft prove by the oath 
of Richard Shoulter that nathanil Bradford did Clear part of the 
said Land and did plant sume Corn on the said Clear Land; And did 
hire sume men to build A house on the said Land; which men did 
deceive him; Mathias Everson sware that he did worke foure days 
on the said Land by order of nathanil Bradfor [sic] Towards the 
geting A frame for A house; the Pit proved by the oath of Robert 
Bracey senr that the Pit built the first house on the said Land; and 
Robert Bracey Junr sware that there never was any Com Tended 
on the said Land by the said nathanil Bradford or his order; but 
that there was About one hundred Com hills made on the said Land 
the Cause was Left to A Jurey of Twelve men and debated on both 
sids [sic] after which the Jurey went out and brought in there ^'erdict 
that they finde for the Pit Twelve pence daimage with cost of suit; 
the Court passe Judgmt According to the verdict of the Jurey Alias 
Execution; Jurey men nortton Claypoole Alexander Draper Sam- 
well Gray Halmaines wiltbanck Richard Lawes Henry Stracher Wil- 
liam Carter Anthony Hamen william Kening George Young Henry 
Bowman John depree. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Stracher Pit, Peter Groundyk 
deft. [From April Court * * * in June Court the Cause was 
put to A Jurey — verdict for pit. with cost of suit] Jurey men — N 
Claypoole Alex Draper Hal Mainas Will Carter Will Kening Geo 
Young Hen Bowman Jo Depree. 

Comelis verhoofe Agt Peter Groundyk by way of searifacous. 
[From April Court, the deft, to shew cause for not paying "the Pit. 
the Clarks feese that are due to him in a Cause formerly depending 
in this Court; Betwene the deft and Capt John Avery;" * * *j 

An Action of the Case.. Halm Wiltbanck Pit, Peter Groundyk deft. 
Wittnes Anthony Hamen Corn Johnson & Hen Stracher. [From 
April Court. At this Court left to a Jury, who find for the Pit. "with 



COURT RECORDS. 75 

Tweh'e pence damiag and Cost of suit. "] Jurey men nortton Clay- 
poole Alexander Draper William Carter william Kening George Young 
Henry Bowman John Depree. 

An Action of the Case. William Darvall Pit, Henry Bowman deft. 
[From April Court, when "the deft beinge prevented from Coming 
to Court; by reasion of Ellnes And the badnes of the weather to 
Travile in; the Court Granted * * * ^ reference untill this 
Court" * * * Judgment for the pit Agt the deft with Cost of 
suit Alias Execution.] 

An Action of the Case. Richard Lawes Pit, Samll Showell deft; 
the pit oath [Debt of Tobacco. Judgment for Pit, with Cost of 
suit. Alias Execution]. 

An Action of the Case. Henry Stracher Pit, Peter Groundyk Deft; 
the Pits oath. The Pit declare that the deft received of the Pit by 
the hands of Alexander Moulston five hundred pounds of Tobacco 
* * * [verdict of Jury " for Pit and gave him five hundred pounds 
of Tobacco wt Cost of Suit"]. Jurey men nortton Claypoole Samwell 
Gray George Young Alexander Draper William Carter William 
ffootcher william Keninge. 

An Action of the Case. John vines Pit, Peter Groundyk deft. 
Refered at the Request of the deft untill the next Court. 

William ffootcher Pit, John King deft. Wittneses Peter Groundyk 
Com \-erhoofe will Taylor Capt A\-ery Capt [Cantreel?] John Crew 
Robt Hignet Robt Bracey Senr Rich bundon. The Pit declare that 
the deft did Agree to Convey unto the Pit the three hundred Acres 
of Land that the Pit now live upon And that he had satisfied the 
deft for the same; the Cause was Left to A Jurey and After being 
pleaded to on both sides and the wittneses sworen and excamined ; the 
Jurey went out and brought in there verdict; that they finde for the 
Pit with Cost of suit; the Court passe Judgment According to the 
verdict of the Jurey Alias Execution. Execution given out the 
2th Eleaventh Moneth 1682. Jurey men nortton Claypoole Alex- 
ander Draper Samwell Gray Halmainas Wiltbank Rich Lawes Henry 
Stracher William Carter Anthony Hamen Will Kening Georg Young 
Hen Bowman John Depree. 

John King Pit, Will footcher deft wittnes Arin Biship Robert 
Hignett. The Pit declare that Elias Hartle did give unto the Pit 
Mother & hur heires A Cow and Calfe with there encrease for a stock 
for the Pits Mother and hur heires; And that the deft have Long 
sence possessed himselfe with foure Cows being of the encrease of 
the said Cow and Calfe; the Cause was Left to A Jurey * * * 
verdict that they finde for the deft with Cost of suit * * * . 
Jurey men nortton Claypoole Alexander draper Samll Gray Halmainas 
wiltbank Rich Lawes Hen Stracher Will Carter Anthony Hamen 
will Kening Georg Young Henry Bawman [sic] John depree. 

An Action of the Case. William footcher Pit, John King deft; 
"with drawen." 

An Action of the Case. Alexander Draper Pit, John Dickerson 
deft; "with drawen." 

An Action of the Case. John Crew Pit, John Johnson Junr deft; 
"with drawen." 

Whare As William Clark did buy of Capt John Osborne of Sum- 
ersett County in the provience of Mary Land An negor man Called 



76 SOME RECORDS OF. SUSSEX COUNTY. 

or knowen by the name of black Will for and during his natrill Life; 
Never the Less the said William Clark doe for the Incourigment of 
the sd neagor servant hereby promise Covenant and Agree; that if 
the said Black Will doe and shall well and Truely sarve the said Will- 
iam Clark his Executors Administrators or Assignes five years from the 
Twentieth day of May Last past; that then the said Black Will shall 
be Clear and free of and from Any further or Longer sarvicetive or 
slavery; After he have sarved the said five years As A for said as 
wittnes my hand this Thurteenth day of the Moneth Called June Anno ; 
Dm; 1682; 
Signed, Test. Luke Wattson 

his mark Wm : Clark. 

John K. Kiphaven 

The Court Grant Sam well Jones three hundred Acres of Land; 
wart Given out 19th Inst. 

* * * unto John Booth, five hundred acres; wart 19th Insint. 

* * * unto ffrancis Bateson five hundred acres; wart 14th 4 
mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Mathew osbome, 300 acres; wart 24th Insint. 

* * * unto John Bamett, 300 acres; wart 9th 2 mo, 1683. 

* * * unto ffrancis Williams, 400 acres; wart 31th S mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Robert Richards, 400 acres; wart 31th 5 mo, 1682. 

* * * unto Thomas Grimdyk and francis Henry, 500 acres; 
wart 12th 6 mo, 1682. 

Peter Groundyk peticon the Court that he may have the Cause 
That was this day Tryd betwene Henry Stracher Ant this peticoner; 
to be Tryd in Equiety the next Court by bill and Answer As is use 
in the Court of Chancrey in England which the Court would A per- 
swaded him to A dissisted in it; and rest himself e satisfied in what 
was allready done; but through his perswading the Court Grant the 
peticoner his request; provided that the proceeding be put in in 
due time According to Law. 

John Crew as Atturney to John Savidge did this day Accknowlidg 
A deede of Conveyance And Patton of six hundred Acres of Land 
unto John Depree in open Court; to have and to hold unto the said 
John depree and to his heires and Assignes for ever. 

Parrit the Indian Shackamacker doe Accknowlidg in open Court 
that he have sold unto Henry Bowman the Indian right of the Thou- 
sand Acres of Land that the said Henry Bowman purchised of John 
Depree Lyeing on the neck of Land Betwene Slater Branch and Ceeder 
Creeke for which he Accknowlidge to have received full satisfacon 
for the same. 

Parrit the Indian Shackamacker doe Accknowhdg in open Court 
that he have sold unto Henry Bowman the Indian right of the seaven 
hundred Acres of Land that was Lately in differance Betwene the 
said Henry Bowman and Alexander Draper Lyeing betwene the Land 
of the said Alexander Draper; and the Land that the said Henry 
Bowman Bought of John Depree; for which he Accknowlidg to have 
received full satisfacon for the same. 

Henry Stracher doe Except of A Cow at six hundred Twenty five 
pounds of Tobacco; which sd Cow was not Long sence taken upon 
Execution from the said Henry Stracher at the suit of Peter Groundyk. 



COURT RECORDS. 77 

The Court Grant unto Thomas Silby six hundred Acres of Land; 
■wart given out 19th 4 mo, 1682; another wart Given oute ye 26th 
12 mo, 1685 the first being lost. 

The Court order Alexander Moulston to Receive of Peter Groundyk 
Twenty one Shilling in three Causes that he was Cast in this Court ; 
being for the Jurey feese. 

The Court order Alexander Moulston to receive of John King six- 
teene shilling for the Jurey feese in the Cause he was Cast in this Court. 

The Court order Bapties Newcomb to pay unto Nortton Claypoole 
forman of the Jurey Twelve Shillings for the Jurey feese in the Cause 
that he was Pit in this Court. 

The Court order William footcher to pay unto Nortton Claypoole 
forman of the Jurey Eighte Shillings for the Jureys feese in the Cause 
that he was Pit in this Court. 

The Court Grant unto John Smith Two hundred Acres of Land; 
warrant Given out the llth 6 mo, 1682. 

The Court is Adjurned untill the second Tusday of September 
next ensueing. Test Wm; Clark JJ CI. 

September 12th, 13th, 1682. 

Att A Court Held at Deale for the Towne And County of Deale 
By the Kings Authority the 12th and 13th days of the Moneth Called 
September Anno; Dm; 1682; Commisconers present: Luke Wattson 
John Roades John Kiphaven William Clark. 

An Action of debt. Capt Marton Creagor Pit, Anthony Hamen 
Alias Haverla deft. [Refered from Court to Court beginning with 
December. Now, — "the Pit not Appearing by him selfe or by his 
Attumey to prosecute his suit" the Court grant "An non suit Agt 
the Pit with cost. * * *] 

An Action of the Case. William Clark Pit Daniell Browne Estate 
in the Pits hands deft. [From the March Court — "And at September 
Court the Cause was refered untill Novmber Court to see if the deft 
would Com and make defence in the said Cause."] 

An Action of the Case. John vines Pit, Peter Groundyk deft. 
[Refered from June Court * * * "Att Septemb Court the deft 
produced An order from the Comander in Cheife and Councell to stop 
the proceedings Agt the deft; which the Court submitted to."] 

An Action of Debt. Nortton Claypoole Pit Henry Bowman deft. 
Witnes Jo Hill; [* * * "the deft not being here the Court refere 
the Cause untill the next Court."] 

An Action of Traspase. WilKam Kening Pit Robert Bracey senr 
deft, wittnes Capt Avery Com verhoof Baptis newcomb Hen Stracher 
John oakey, sepene. The Pit declare that the deft Caused part of 
the Pits Land to be surveyed for his owne use and Cutt and marke 
severall of the Pits trees; the Cause was put to a Jurey; the Pit prove 
by the oath of Cornehs verhoofe that the deft had as he thought sur- 
veyed part of the Pits Land * * * the Jurey * * * finde 
for the Pit with one shilling damag and Cost of suit * * *. Jurey 
men Norton Claypoole Will footcher Alex Draper Geo Young Antho 
Hamen Rich Patte Roger Gum John Depree Hen Stracher Rich 
Lawes John Smith Bryt Rowles sworen. 

An Action of Traspase. Georg Young Pit, firancis Williams deft, 
wittnes Rich Shoulter Stephen Whetman Anthony Parsley, Sepene 



78 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Pit declare that the deft Cutt sold and distroyd his Tmber on 
A parcell of Land of the Pit Lyeing Betwene Rehower bay and the 
Indian River; the deft pleads that the Land is William Burton and 
John Baggwell whoe sett him at work on the said Land; And Craved 
A referance untill the next Court to prove the same; which the Court 
Granted. 

An Action of the Case. John Kurk Pit Halm Wiltbanck deft. 
With drawen by order of the Pits Atturney. 

An Action of the Case. WilUam Beaverly Pit. William Davids deft, 
wittnes Rob Williams James Hews, sepened. The Pit declare that the 
deft did in the night time sease upon his person and bind him with 
Cords, and doe other harmes to his body in the pit hired house; the 
deft did Confess that he did binde the pit; the Cause was put to A 
Jurey which after being pleaded unto by the pit and the deft the 
Jurey went out and brought in there verdit that they finde for the 
pit and give him Twelve pence damiag and Cost of suit the Court 
pass Judgmt Accordingly Alias Execution. Jurey men Nor Clay- 
poole Will footcher Alex draper Geo Young Ant Hamen Rich 
patte John Smith Roger Gum John depree Hen Stracher Rich Lawes 
Bry Rowles sworen. 

An Action of the Case. Thomas Rogers Pit, John Barnett deft. 
The Pit declare that the deft stands Indebted unto him one new pair 
of men franch fall shoes which the deft owne; and therefor the Court 
passe Judgment for the pit Agt the deft for one pair of shoes as A for 
said with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of defamacon. Cornells Johnson Pit Barnwell Jackson 
deft; "with drawen." 

Samwell Showell Pit, Richard Lawes deft; "with drawen." 

An Action of Debt. John Beaman Pit, William Bourne deft. 
The Pit declare by his Atturney Capt John Brigs that the deft stands 
Justly Indebted unto him in Ten Thousand pounds of Tobacco Con- 
ditconed for the payment of five Thousand pounds of Tobaccc on 
demand; the deft pleads that he was A prisoner at the suit of the 
Pit when he passed the bill and that he did signe it to get his Libirty; 
not that he was so much Indebted unto the Pit; And that he did 
give the Pit order to receive more Tobacco that is due to the deft in 
Mary Land then the five Thousand pounds Com to; and Craves A 
referance untill the next Court to prove the same; upon which the 
Court Granted the deft a Referance untill the next Court. 

An Action of debt. Nichols Greenbury Pit, William Bourne deft; 
[similar to preceding case, with Capt John Brigs "Atturney"]. 

An Action of Traspase. John Bellamey Pit, Henry Smith Junr 
deft; Wittnes Sepene, Henry Skidemore. The Pit declared that the 
deft did Cart and Carrie a way a bout A Cart Load of Clap boord of 
from the Pit Land Lying in prince Hook neck and did hinder and 
obstroct his Carpender from proceeding in his work; the deft pleads 
that the Land is h\s father and that what he did was by his fathers 
order; the deft haveing had but a short time to prove his father 
tittle to the sd Land sence he was A rested Craves A Referance untill 
the next Court wch the Pit Consented unto. 

An Action of Traspase. John Bellamey Pit, Luke wattson senr 
deft; wittnes, .sepene, Henry Skidemore. The Pit declare that the 
deft did hinder obstroct and moUest his Carpender by for warning 



COURT RECORDS. 79 

him from working on the Pits Land at prince liook neck and by 
falling of Trees on the Carpenders work; the deft pleads that the 
Land is his fathers Capt Henry Smiths* and that what he did was by 
the said Capt Smiths order; and the Pit and deft Agree to refer the 
triall untill the next Court. 

An Action of debt. William Allen Pit, John Gibson deft. 

Thomas Moulston Peticoner Agt WilUam Beaverly ; "with 
drawen." 

WiUiam Bourne peticoner, Agt Nichols & Sarah Bartlett. ["Nichols 
Bartlett hur husband."] 

The Court fine John vines shreife fifty pounds of Tobacco for 
smoking in the Court. 

Cornells Johnson peticon that the four hundred Acres of Land 
surveyed Lately for the said CorneUs Johnson Called White oak 
neck may be returned in the Certivecate of survey in the name of 
Richard Patte he haveing Given him A Consideracon for the same; 
which the Court Grant and this order of Court shall be A sufficient 
warrant for the surveyors soe doeing. 

The Court Grant unto John Roades the peece of wast Land that 
Joynes to the new forrise being about one hundred and Twenty Acres 
& to be surveyed into the same. Wart given out 10th 7 mo, 82. 

The Court Grant unto Josep Thome three hundred Acres of Land; 
wart. 21th Insint. 

Halmainas Wiltbanck Acknowlidge in open Court A patton and 
Conveyance of A Certaine parcell of Land Called by the name of 
Wilt [Witt ?] Bay; Lyeing on the north side of the greate Creeke; Con- 
tayning Eight hundred Acres of Land; unto John Kurk his heires 
and Assignes for ever; and doe promise and Ingage to give the said 
John Kurk or his Assignes Quit and peaceable possession of the said 
Land and premisses by the Last day of October now next ensueinge 
the date hereof. 

Ann Newcomb the Late wife of John Hagester deceased did this 
day proveth in Court the Last will and Testament of the said John 
Hagester deceased; of which said will she the said Ann is made 
sole Exceterce; and Letters of Administracon are by the Court 
Granted unto Baptis Newcomb and Ann his wife. 

The Court Grant unto Baptis Newcomb A peece of wast Land 
Lyeing Adjoyning to the Land he now Live upon; Being about the 
Quantety of ffortye or fSfty Acres of Land. 

The Court Grant unto John Hagester suii of John Hagester de- 
ceased three hundred Acres of Land; warrant given out the 6th 
11 mo, 1682. 

The Court order and Appoint Edward Southrin, George young, 
Henry Stracher & William Emitt to Apprize the Estate debts 
Goods and Chattels that John Hagester deceased was possessed with 
Just befor his death; And to Give in An Inventory there of under 
there hands unto the Clark of the Court; Betwene this and the next 
Court; An Account of the sd Estate debts goods & Chattells Baptis 
Newcomb and Ann his wife swore to give unto the Apprazer to the 
best of there knowlidge. 

* When this case is called — at Court 9, 10, Uth, 11 mo, p. 93 of the Record Book 
— "the deft pleads that the Land is his father in Law Henry Smith'* etc. a non 
suit was entered, etc. 



80 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Edward Southrin Ingage to the Court to be Bound with Baptis 
that he the said Bapties Newcomb and Ann his wife shall give in A 
true Inventory of the Estate debts goods and Chattels that John 
Hagester deceased was possessed with at the time or Just befor his 
death: And to perform all such things as belong to Administrator 
to doe and performe According to Law. 

The Court Grant unto John Hill the wast Land that Lye Betwene 
the Land that he purchiased of Simon ParUng; And Thomas Haward 
Land that he now Live on; Being on the north side of the greate 
Creeke; to be surveyed into the Land that he bought of the said 
Simon Parling which sd wast Land is Judged to be a bout sixty or 
seaventy Acres; more or Lesse. 

Edward Boodle Caused John oakey to be sumance by way of 
searafacous * * * [debt of Tobacco]. 

The Court Grant unto Anthony Parsley three hundred Acres of 
Land; warrant given out the 2th 8 mo, 1682; the other warrt 
being lost another Granted the 19th 11 mo, 1686. 

The Court Grant unto Thomas Grimdyk 250 acres of Land to be 
Added to his former Grant; wart 21th Insint. 

The Court order Robert Bracey to pay unto William Clark for the 
Jurey fees In the Cause that he was Cast in this Court at the suit of 
William Kening three and Twenty Shillings; and to Alexander 
Moulston thurteene shillings. 

The Court order William Davids to pay unto William Clark for the 
Jureys feese In the Cause that he was Cast in this Court at the suit 
of Willm Beverly foure and Twenty Shillings; and to Alexander 
Moulston Twelve Shillings. 

The Court Grant unto John Pye 300 Acres; wart 21th Insint. 

The Court order that from this day forward all declaracons shall 
be fild in the Clarks office Eighte days befor the Court According to 
the Law of this Goverment; notwithstanding Any former order of 
Court made to the Contrary. 

The Court Adjurne untill the second Tusday of next novmber 
1682. Test Wm. Clark. 

Wm. Clark Luke Wattson John Roades John Avrey Hal- 
MAiNAS WiLTBANCK & ALEXANDER MouLSTON: — These are to desire 
you to Meet me next Thursday soe Called at the Towne of New 
Castle Being the second Novmber; where I Intend to hold a Generall 
Court for the settling the Jurisdiction of these and your parts in 
which you will oblidge 

Your Loveing friend 

Signed Wm. Penn. 

Upland, the 29th 8ber, 1682. 

If there be any persons of note or others that desier to be present 
they may Com freely with you are desired to Comunicate. W. P. 

August 24th, 1682. 
Know yee that James Duke of York Earle of Ulster &c. did by one 
deed of flffiment dated the 24th of August 1682; pass and Convey 
unto William Penn Esquire Son and Heire of Sr William Penn de- 
ceased Proprietary and Governor of Pensilvania &c. And his Heires 



■ ■ COURT RECORDS. 81 

and Assignes forever from Twelve Miles southwards of New Castle 
Upon Dellaware River to Cape Henlopen Together with the powers 
and Jurisdictions there unto belonging; Resarveing unto him selfe 
one Moyety of the Rent thereof; where by the said William Penn Es- 
quire Becometh Also Proprietary and Governor of the before Men- 
ticoned Tract of Land. 

November 7th, 1682. 
William Penn Esquire Proprietary & Governor op Pensil- 
VANiA New Castle St James Whoore Kills als New 
Deale With Their Proper Lieertys: — 

I doe in the Kings name hereby Constiute [sic] & Authorize you 
Luke Wattson William Clark John Roades John Avrey and Hal- 
mainas Wiltbanck or any three of you to be Justices of the peace 
And Court of Judicature for the County of Whore Kills Als New 
Deal; to Act in the said Imployment and Trust for the preservation 
of the peace and Justices of the provience; Hereby willing and Charg- 
ing all persons within the said Limitts to take notice hereof; And 
Accordingly to yeild you all due and Just obedience in the discharge 
of your said Trust, And this Comicon to be of force for the space of 
one whole year from the date hereof; or untill further order; Given 
under my hand and seal In New Castle this 7th day of Novmb 1682; 

Wm. Penn. 

To My LoveingfEriends; Luke Wattson; Wm. Clark; John Roades; 
John Avery; Malmainas [sic] Wiltbanck. 

November 14th, 1682. 

Wee Luke Wattson William Clark John Roades John Avery & 
Halmains Wiltbanck Being by William Penn proprietary and Governor 
of Pensilvania & Territories there unto belonging Constiuted And 
Authorized to be Justices of the peace And A Court of Judicature 
for the County of Sessex to Act in the said Imployment And Trust 
for the preservation of the peace and Justices of the County In Pur- 
suance of our said Comission According to Law; Doe hereby In the 
presence of God declare And solemonly promise by the help of God 
to be Just and true to him in Managing and performing our said 
trust and faithfully discharge the same in obedience to our said 
Comission; And Act therein According to the best of our understandings 
wittnes our hands and seals this forteenth day of Novmber 1682; 
Wittnesses present Luke Wattson (sealed) 

Edward Southrin John Roades (sealed) 

Wm; Clark Halm Wiltbanck (sealed) 

John Hill 

Henry Strecther 

After the Justices had signed as above on the 14th day of the 9 mo; 
1682; they Adjurned the Court untill the 9th 11 mo; 1682. 

December 2Sth, 1682. 

Wm: Penn Proprietary & Governor of Pennsilvania & Tbr- 

ritorys Their unto Belonging. 

By Virtue of the Authority derived unto me I doe hereby In the 

Kings name Constitute Appoint & Authorize you William Darvall 

Luke Wattson Norton Claypoole John Roades Edward Southrin 



82 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Robert Hart and John Kiphaven to be Justices of the Peace in the 
Jurisdiction of the County of the Whore Kills which my will and 
pleasure is shall from hence forth be Called by the name of Sussex 
the Extent whereof shall be from the maine branch of Mispillon 
Creek Called the three Runs northwards; And southwards to Ase- 
womet Inlet; Reputed And Accounted Cape Henlopen which said 
Cape Henlopen I will from hence forward have Called by the name 
of Cape James; And you or any four of you to be a Court of Judi- 
cature; Giving you & Every of you full power to Act in the said 
office According to Law and the Trust Reposed in you; of which all 
persons are to take notice and to give you the due Respect and obedi- 
ence Belonging to your places in the discharging of your duties this 
Comission to be of force for the space of one year After the date hereof 
or untill further order; Given under my hand and seal at Chester 
the 25th day of the 10 mo; 1682; Being the second year of my Govern- 
ment. Signed Wm. Penn. 

January 9th, 1682. . 
Wee William Darvall Luke Wattson Norton Claypoole John Roades 
Edward Southrin Robert Hart & John Kiphaven; Being by William 
Penn Esquire proprietary And Governor of Pensilvania and Ter- 
ritories there unto belonging Constituted And Authorized to be 
Justices of the peace And A Court of Judicature for the County of 
Sessex to Act in the same Imployment and Trust for the preservation 
of the peace and Justices of the County In persueance of our said 
Comission According to Law; wee doe hereby in the presence of 
God declare that wee freely Accknowlidg the said William Penn to be 
our Rightful! proprietary and Governor; And doe solemonly promise 
by the help of God to be Just and true to him in Managing and per- 
forming our said trust and faithfully discharge the same in obediance 
to our said Comission And Act there in According to the best of our 
understandings; And if wee shall wittingly or willingly Act or doe 
any thing Contrary to Law or fidellity to our proprietary & the trust 
Reposed in us by him; wee doe hereby oblidg our selves to suffer 
and undergoe the same fine or ponishment that the matter shall in 
Law desarve as if wee had Activfly taken an oath; In wittnes whereof 
wee have hereunto sett our hands and seals the ninth day of the 
Eleaventh Moneth Anno; Dm; 1682. 

William Darvall (sealed) 
Luke Wattson (sealed) 

John Rhoades (sealed) 

Edward Southrin (sealed) 
Robert Hart (sealed) 

John Kiphaven (sealed) 



Signed by . 



Sealed signed & delivered 
in the presence of 
Wm, Clark 
John Hill. 

December 25th, 1682. 
To My Loveing ffriends William Darvall Luke Wattson 
Norton Claypoole John Roades Edward Southrin Robert 
Hart & John Kiphaven Justices of the Peace for the 



COURT RECORDS. 83 

County of Sessex These ffriends: — Sence it hath pleased God 
to put the Govermt of the west side of Dellaware River and Bay into 
my hands; I Cannot but in good Concience Endeavor to promote 
Justices and Rightousness Among the Inhabitents thereof Knowing 
that he who is the Judg of quick and dead will Remember us for 
god if wee forget not him; And that A Goverment Laid and Begun 
by the Line of Equity and true Judgment; will not faile of prosperity; 
I therefor most Earnestly Recommend to you who are the Ministers 
of Justice for the County you Live in; Vigilancy and fEdelity, that 
you may neither neglect nor pervert Justice; And in order there 
unto That you keepe your Courts with Constancy and Gravity; and 
that you have your Eare open to hear all as well the poore as the 
Rich; And In all Cases to Judge According to the Truth of the 
Evidence; without fear favour AfEection or Reward; That God may 
Bless you and the people Blesse you; which seldom faileth to be the 
Reward of wise Just and vertuous Magistrates; I doe Also think fitt 
that An Exact Catalogue be Returned to me of the names of all the 
people of your County; Masters Mistresses servants parents Chil- 
dren; Also the Number of Acres Each ffreeholder hath; And by 
whom and when Granted ; All in distinct Columons ; with a Mark on 
Non resident that have Claims; And if any disputes should Arise 
About titles of Land; they must be determined According to the 
Rules and orders that the Court of your County has Limited & pre- 
scribed for the seating and Improveing of Land; And soe I bid 
you all hartily farewell Given at Chester the 2Sth 10 mo; 1682; 
In the second year of my Government. Signed Wm. Penn. 

By the Proprietary & Governor of Pensilvania & the 
Territorys Thereunto Belonging: — 

Haveing Duely Considered the present state of your County; to 
the End that all obstructions to the due Improvement theirof may be 
Removed; And Reasonable Encouragement Given to Invite planters 
to settle Amongst you; I doe think fitt to order and Appoint as fol- 
lows; fiirst that you in open Court shall Receive all peticons from 
time to time that may be made; by such persons as designe to take 
up Land Among you; and that you Grant them a Warrant to the 
surveyor to Ad measure the same; provided all ways that you Exceed 
not three hundred Acres of Land to A Master of A family nor A hun- 
dred Acres to A single person; At one single penny ^ Acre; or vallue 
thereof in the produce of the Country which done that the surveyor 
make his Returne Into Court; And that the Court make theire Re- 
turne unto my secritary's office; 

Secondly and because no Land shall Lye wast to the prejudice 
of new planters; All Lands formerly Granted and not taken up & 
settled within the time Limitted by the Methods of your own Court; 
that Granted them; shall be Accounted vacant Land and disposeable 
upon the termes Aforsaid; the old Claymt or pretender to have the 
preferance if not allrady seated owner of Above three hundred Acres ; 
Unless allrady seated by some other person; 

Thurdly that all persons for the future that shall have Grants to 
take up Land be also Limitted to seat it within one year After the date 
of the Grant; Else the said Grants to be Voyde & of no Effect; 



84 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

forthly that you Endeavor to seat the Lands that shall here after 
be taken up in the way of Townships; As three Thousand Acres 
Amongst Tenn familys; if single persons one Thousand Acres Amongst 
Tenn of them; Laid out in the nature of A Long square five or Tenn 
of a side; And a way of Two hundred foot broad Left Betwene them; 
for an High way in the Township; this I would have you CarfuU in; 
for the future good and great Benefitt of your Country; Given under 
my hand & seal at Chester the 25th of 10 mo, 1682. 

Signed Wm. Penn. 

To the Justices of the peace for the County of Sessex. 

By William Penn Proprietary & Governor of Pensilvania 
& Territoryes Thereunto Belonging: — 

I doe hereby order and Appoint that befor Any Land be surveyed 
for any other person; you doe Issue forth A warrant directed to the 
surveyor or his Deputy; to lay out for the duke of yorke in your County 
or precints Tenn Thousand Acres of Land for A Mannor; And Tenn 
Thousand Acres of Land for A Mannor for my selfe And I would 
have the duks Mannor Lye on the north side of Assn Awarmet Inlett 
As near to Cape James as may be; And My Mannor to be betwene 
the Bounds of Cedar Creek & Mispilion Creek or in the most Con- 
venient place Towards the north side of the County; Given under 
my hand & seal att Chester the 26th of the 10 mo, 1682. 

Signed Wm. Penn. 

To the Justices of the peace of the County of Sussex. 

Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor op Pensilvania and 
Territoryes Thereunto Belonging: — 

I doe hereby Constitute and Authorise thee William Clark of the 
Whoor Kills now Called the County of Sussex to be Clark of the Courts 
of sessions to be holden for the said County; And Register of the said 
County Also; to Act therein Justly and dilligently According to Law 
to the best of thy understanding; This Comission to be of force for 
the space of one year or untill further order; Given under my hand 
and seal at Chester the 25 day of 10 mo, 1682; In the second year 
of My Government. Signed Wm. Penn. 

Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of Pensilvania New 

Castle St. James Whore Kills Alias new Deal 

with Their Proper Libertys: — 

I doe hereby in the Kings name Constitute and Appoint thee John 
vines to be High Shreiffe of the County of Whore Kill Alls new deal 
Giveing thee full power & Authority to Act in the said office and 
Imployment According to the duty of A Sherife; and to make one 
or more deputy as there may be occation and to receive all the profitts 
and Advantages which doe or ought to belong unto the said place 
behaving thy selfe & being Regulated therein in all Respect According 
to Law; And in so doing all persons whom it may Conceme are hereby 
Required to bear thee due obedience as belong to a High Shreife in 
the Execution of thy office; this Comission to be of force for one 



COURT RECORDS. 85 

whole year or untill further order; Given under my hand and seal 
at Xew Castle or Dellaware this Eighte day of Novmber one Thousand 
six hundred Eightye Two. Wm. Penn. 

To John vines High Sherife of the County of Whore Kills Als New deal. 

W.M. Penn Proprietary & Governor op Pensilvania New Castle 

St James; New Deal Allis Whore Kills With 

Their Proper Libert ys: — 

These are in the Kings name to Require and Empower thee to 
sumon all the free holders within the precincts of thy office to meet 
on the Twentieth day of this Insint Moneth of Novmber and that 
there they Elect Chuse out of themselves seaven persons of most 
note for wisdome sobriety 8c Integrity to serve as their Deputys & 
Representatives In General Assembly to be held at upland in the 
provience of pensilvania the sixt day of December next; and then 
and there to Consult with me for the Comon Good of the Inhabitents 
of that provience and the Adjiacent Counties of New Castle St. Jones 
new deal Als Whore Kills under my Charge & Jurisdition of which 
make due and Just Returne unto me; Given under my hand and 
seal this Eighte day of Novmber one Thousand six hundred Eightye 
Two. Wm. Penn. 

To John vines High Shreife of the County of Whore Kills Als New deal. 
Whore Kill Als deal, 21th 9 mo, 1682. 

Proprietary & Governor William Penn Esquire &o: — In 
obedience to thy warrant dated the Eighte day of this Insint to me 
directed; I did sumon all the free holders within this County to meet 
at this Towne on the Twentieth Insint to Elect and Chuse out of 
themselves seaven persons of most note for wisdome sobriety & In- 
tegrity to serve as their deputys & Representatives In Generall As- 
sembly to be held at upland In the provience of Pensilvania the sixt 
day of December next; Att which time the free holders did then and 
there meet; And with A Generall vote they did Elect and Chose the 
persons; whose names I here Returne unto thee According to thy 
order; and take Leave to subscribe my selfe thy faithfuU ffriend & 
Humble sert Signed John vines, Sherife. 

Edward Southrin, William Clark, Alexander draper, John Roades, 
Luke Wattson, Nathaniel Walker, Corn verhoofe. 

January 9th, 10th and 11th, 1682. 

Att A Court Held Att Lewis for the County of Sussex By the Kings 
Authoritye And by Commission from William Penn Proprietary & 
Governor of Pensilvania And Territoryes there unto belonging the 
9th 10th & 11th days of the Eleaventh Moneth 1682. Justices present: 
WilUam Darvall, Luke Wattson, John Roades, Edward Southrin, 
Robert Hart, John Kiphaven. 

John Bellamey pit, Henry Smith Junr deft. Wittnes danill Brown 
Hen Stracher Henry Skidmor Will Craford Henry Skidmor Will 
Clork John Roades. [This case was refered from "the last seaventh 
Moneth Court," and at this present Court "was Left to A Jurey"] 
Jurey men Norton Claypoole John Richards Robert Hart Junr 
William Borne Alexander draper Barnard Garritt Anthony Hancen 



86 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Thomas Howard Michall Chambers Stephen Whetman Bryant 
Rowles Cornells Johnson. 

John Avery Pit, Richard Harvey deft. The suit falls by the death 
of the Pit whoe departed this Life the 16th day 9 mo, 1682. 

William Clark Pit, Jacob Shattham deft. The pit declares that 
the deft entertayned A servant that he bought of Capt John Osborne 
of Sumersett County in the provience of Mary [sic] for about six weeks; 
the deft Confess that the said servant was at his house about that 
time and that he did work for the deft to the vallow of one hundred 
pounds of Tobacco; the Cotirt therefor passe Judgment for the pit 
Agt the deft for the said sume of one hundred pounds of Tobacco 
with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

Halm Wiltbanck Agt Corn Johnson by way of scarifacous. The 
said Cornells Johnson was sumaned to shew Cause if any he Could 
wherefor he doe not Give the said Halmanias Wiltbanck possession 
of the Land he Live upon According to An order of Court & ver- 
dict of A Jurey of Seaven men obtaind in this Court the 8th day of 
the 1 mo, 1681. The said Cornells Johnson sheweth Cause by his 
plea delivered into the Court in writing that he had obtained in this 
Court a verdict of a Jurey of Twelve men for the said Land and prim- 
isses According to the Laws of England; and that the verdict of 
seaven men was and is Contrary to the knowen Laws of England; 
and that the said Halm Wiltbanck did Appeale from the verdict of 
the Jurey of Twelve men a for mentcioned; and that After he had 
Appealed he ought to have prosecuted his said Appeale; And to A 
fsic] had no further triall for the said Land in this Court; and for 
the Reasons and Cause A foresaid the deft doe refuse to deliver pos- 
session of the said Land and primisses; which I Humbly Conceive 
may be Judged to be sufificent Cause by this Court. The Court doe 
by Consent of both parties Refere the bussness untill the proprietary 
Com here and have a hearing of the said Cause and Give his Judgmt 
therein. 

An Action of the Case. John Kurk pit, Halm Wiltbanck deft. 
The pit declare by his Atturney Edward Southrin that the deft on 
or about the 17th day of April 1677; did by his deed In writing 
signed by his own hand & seal oblidg him selfe to give the pit A good 
Asurance of the Land that Cornells Johnson Live upon; and also to 
give the pit Quiett and peaceable possession of the same; the deft 
pleads that he is unjustly keept out of the possession of the sd Land 
and primisses and is not in A Cappasety to doe it but that as sone as 
he Can he will doe it; The Court therefor by the Consent of the pits 
Atturney and the deft Refere the Cause untill the proprietary Com 
Heather to hear and detarmine the same [at Court in 12 mo again 
referred until the proprietary come]. 

An Action of the Case. WiUiam Bottler pit, Henry Stracther deft. 
With drawen by order of the pit; by Informacon of William Emmitt 
depty Shriefe. 

An Action of Traspasse upon the Case. Michall Chambers pit, 
Paul Marsh deft; wittnes Will Townsend. The pit declare that sev- 
erall of his hoggs ware wounded and destroyed by dogs in the defts 
Corn feild; but the pit not proveing his declaracon and the deft not 
Confessing it; the Court order an non suit to be entered Agt the pit 
with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 



COURT RECORDS. 87 

An Action of the Case. Baptis Newcomb Administrator to the goods 
& Chattls of John Hagester deceased pit, Danill Browne deft; wittnes 
Will Emmitt. The pit declare that the deft stands Justly Indebted 
unto the Estate of John Hagester deceased; in five hundred and sixty 
three pounds of Tobacco; and prove the same to the satisfacon of 
the Court; the Court therefor passe Judgmt for the pit Agt the deft 
for the said sume of live hundred sixty three pounds of Tobacco; 
with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case. Halm Wiltbanck pit, Agt the Estate of 
Samwell Jones in the hands of Henry Stracther deft. The pit de- 
claring Agt Another person then what is in the writt; the Court order 
An non suit to be entered Agt the pit with Cost of suit Alias Execu- 
tion. 

This day the Last will and Testament of Edwd Boodle deceased 
was proved in open Court being in writing bearing date the 7th day 
of December 1682; by the Testamony of William Emmitt and Ste- 
phen Whetman; to be the Last will and Testament of him the said 
Edward Boodle; And Letters of Administracon are by the Court 
Granted unto John Kiphaven and John depree; to Administer and 
enter upon his Estate Lands Goods and Chattls of the deceased; they 
giveing security to perform the said will and save the Court Harmless. 

This day the Jurey that went upon the death of John the sun of 
Comelis Johnson brought their verdict into Court and say that they 
doe finde that he Came by his death by A dog or beast. 

This day the Jurey that went upon the death of Thomas Grimdick 
deceased brought in their verdict Into Court that they doe finde That 
the said Thomas Grindick Cam to his death by A fall from his house. 

Stephen Whetman peticon the Court and sett forth in his said 
peticon that he is the princable Craditor of the said Thomas Grimdick 
deceased; and prays that he may be Admitted to Letters of Ad- 
ministracon to Administer upon the Estate Lands Goods and Chattls 
of the said Thomas Grimdyk * * * [which the Court granted]. 

Upon the peticon of Cornells Plockhoy the Court Grant unto him 
the Towne Lott that he live upon in Lewis; and the Lott next Ad- 
joyning to that; on Condition that he Build A dwelling house on 
Eche of the said Lotts According to the demencons that the Governor 
shall order; within one yeare after this Grant; or Else to pay five 
pounds to the use of the publick for Eche Lott; and Lose his Lotts 
also. 

The Court doe Chose order and Appint William Carter to be Cun- 
stable for the year ensueing for the Towne of Lewis and to the South 
side of the broad Creek northwards and to the midway from hence 
to Rehower to the southward; and John Richards is Chose order 
Appointed, John Richards to be Cunstable from the north side of 
the brood Creek to the extent of the County northwards and William 
footcher is Chose order and Apointed to be Constable for the year 
ensueing his bound to Extend from midway betwene this Towne and 
Rehower unto the uttmost of the Extent or bounds of this County 
Southwards. 

The Court order Chose and Appoint John Hill Robert Hart Junr 
and William Bradford to be survyrs of the High ways and Bridges 
for the year ensueing and that they doe warne in the Inhabitence of 
this County to marke Clear and mend the High wayes within this 



65 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

County; and make and Repair what bridges shall be needfull 
within this County the said John Hills extents to be from the flat 
Lands southwards and to the south side of the greene branch of prime 
hook Creek northwards and the said Robert Hart Extent or bounds 
to be from the south side of the Greene branch of Prime hook south 
wards to the three Runs of Mispillon Creeke north wards; And the 
said William Bradford Extent or bounds to be from the flat lands north 
wards unto the Extent of the Extent of the County south wards being 
to Cape James formerly Called Cap hinlopen; and if any person shall 
Refuse there Labour after being warned thereunto; that they doe 
return unto the Court the names of all such persons soe Refusing to 
the end that they may be fined According to Law for such their nedg- 
lect. 

The Court Grant unto John Kiphaven upon his peticon the Towne 
Lott Adjoyning to that he Live upon to the north ward; on Con- 
dition that he build A dwelling house on the said Lott within one 
year Afer this Grant of such demencons as the Governor shall order 
and direct; or Else to pay five pounds to the use of the publick; and 
also lose the said Lott. 

Upon the peticon of WilUam Darvall the Court Grant unto him 
three Towne Lotts namely that which his house stands upon and; 
one upon the north west side of that and the other on the south west 
side; on Condition * * * [as preceding Grant]. 

Upon the peticon of Edmond Warner the Court Grant unto him 
the Two Towne Lotts next Adjoyning unto William Darvall on Con- 
dition that he build * * * [as above]. 

Upon the peticon of Edmond Warner the Court Grant unto him 
three hundred Acres of Land at one penny %^- Acre Rent to the pro- 
prietary yearly for ever; on Condition that he seate the said Land 
within one yeare After this Grant; wart Given out the same day. 

Upon the peticon of Edmond Warner the Court Grant unto him 
the Land of the Cap Comonly Called Cap Inlopen Lyeing on the 
north East side of the Creeke formerly Called the Whoore Kills; to 
make Coney Warrin on and Liberty to build A house and seat A War- 
riner upon the said Land; upon Condiccon that the Timber and feede 
of the said Land and Marshes thereunto belonging be and for ever 
here after Lye in Common for the use of the Inhabitents of the Towne 
of Lewis and County of Sussex; as also free Liberty for any or all 
of the Inhabitents of the said County to fish Get and take of thence 
oyster & Cockel shells and gather plums Cranburyes and hockel- 
bureys on the said Land as they shall think fitt; all ways provided 
that no person whatso ever shall not hunt or Kill any Rabbotts or 
harrs on the said Land without the Leave and Consent of him the 
said Edmond Warner his Executors Adminstrators or Assignes. 

Upon the peticon of William Catter* the Court Grant unto him the 
Towne Lott backward Adjoyning to the Land of Nathanil Walker; 
and the Lott that he Live upon on Condiccon [ * * * etc., as pre- 
viously]. 

The Court upon the peticon of Wilham Trotter Grant unto him 
the Towne Lott backward Adjoyning to WilKam Carter back Lott; 
on Condition, etc. 

[*This name was originally written Tratter, & the Tr is changed to C.) 



COURT RECORDS. 89 

The Court upon the peticon of John Bellamey Grant unto him the 
Two Towne Lotts next Adjoyning unto Edmond Warners Lotts; the 
one of them to be forward and the other backward; on Condiccon, 
etc. 

Upon the peticon of John Hill the Court Grant unto him one Towne 
Lott on the South East Side of the blind mans Lott; on Condition, 
etc. 

Upon the peticon of William Beverly the Court Grant unto him 
the Towne Lott that he is building the vessel], upon on Condition, etc., 
& not to dispose of it. 

Upon the peticon of Halmanias Wiltbanck the Court Grant unto 
him the Two Towne Lotts next Adjoyning to his owne Land on Con- 
dition, etc. 

Upon the peticon of Henry Jones the Court Grant unto him the 
Two Towne Lotts next Adjoyning unto Halmainas Wiltbanck back 
Lott; on Condition, etc. 

Upon the peticon of Robert Williams the Court Grant unto him 
one Towne Lott next Adjoyning unto Henry Jones Lotts on Con- 
dition, etc. 

Henry Pedington peticoner, Agt the Estate of William Coudrey 
in the hands of Will Clark. The peticoner sett forth in his peticon 
that the said William Coudrey stands Justly Indebted unto him in 
one Cow and Calfe and A yearling Heffer due to him upon bill being 
for the Land that John Dickerson is now seated upon for the said 
William Coudrey; and proved his bill; the Court therefor order that 
the peticoner be paid the sd Cow Calfe and yearling Heffer out of the 
said William Coudrey said Land with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

John Richards pitconer [sic] Agt the Estate of William Coudrey in 
the hands of William Clark. 

Georg CuUin peticoner, Agt the Estate of Will Coudrey in the 
hands of Will Clark. 

Robert Hart Junr peticoner, Agt the Estate of Will Condrey in 
the hands of Will Clark. The peticoner sett forth in and by his 
peticon yt the said William Coudrey stands Justly Indebted unto 
him in Two hundred pounds of Tobacco; and one pair of mens shoes 
and proved the same by his father Testamony; the Court there for 
order that the peticoner be paid the said Two hundred pounds of 
Tobacco and one pair of mens shos out of the said William Coudreys 
Estate with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

Henry Stracther; peticoners & WilUam Carter, Agt the Estate of 
Will Coudrey in the hands of Will Clark. The peticoners sett forth 
by their peticon that the said William Coudrey stands Justly In- 
debted unto him in one Thousand of six penny nails three hundred 
of single Tenns and in three bottls of rum; and proved the same; the 
Court therfor order that the peticoners be paid the vallow of the 
Thousand of six penny nails three hundred of single Tenns and three 
bottls of rum out of the said William Coudrey Estate with Cost of 
suit Ahas Execution. 

Where as the proprietary have wrote to the Justices of this Court 
therein Exprassing that he think fitt to have an Exact Account sent 
him of the names of the Masters Mistries Children freemen women & 
servants that are Resedent within this County Together with the 
number of Acres of Land Every peticlor person holds or Claimes with 



90 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

in the said County; The Court doe their for order that every person 
that Holds or Claimes any Land within this County; That they doe 
befor the next Court in the Moneth Called ffebuary bring in all their 
Claimes to the Clark of this Court; wheather it be by patton survey 
Grant of Court or other wise and the names of the persons that Live 
upon the said Land. 

Upon the peticon of Charles Brighte the Court Grant unto him 
three hundred Acres of Land ; on Condition that he pay one penny ^ 
Acre yearly as a rent for the sd Land and seat it within one year After 
this Grant; wart given out same day. 

Henry Bowman peticoner, Agt the Estate of Wilham Coudrey in 
the hands of William Clark. The peticoner sett forth by his peticon 
that the said WilUam Coudrey stands Justly Indebted unto him in 
Thurty Two Shill for a Gun and one hundred and fiftye pounds of 
pork for A shurt and proved the same; the Court therefor order that 
the peticoner be paid, etc. 

John Dickerson peticoner, Agt the Estate of Williani Coudrey in 
the hands of William Clark. [The Court there for order that the 
peticoner be paid]. 

Simon Parling this day Cam and in open Court Accknowlidged 
that he have sold unto John Hill & to his heires and Assignes for ever 
A plantacon with three htmdred Acres of Land Lyeing and being 
secuated on the north west side of the broad Creek Adjoyning unto 
the Land of Thomas Haward; and that he have reed full satisfacon 
for the same. 

Upon the peticon of Stephen Whetman the Court doe order and 
Appoint that Edward Southrin and George Young doe Apprize the 
Lands Goods and Chattls of Thomas Grimdick deceased and that An 
Inventory their of be brought into the next Court. 

John Kiphaven peticoner Agt Baptis Newcomb Administrator of 
the Estate of John Hagester deceased. 

Upon the peticon of John Barker the Court Grant unto him three 
hundred Acres of Land att one penny ^ Acre yealy [sic] rent to be 
paid the proprietary; on Condition that he seat the said Land within 
one year after this Grant; wart given out the same day. 

The Court order and Appoint John Roades Norton Claypoole 
■V^'illiam footcher and John Depree to Apprize the Estate debts Goods 
and Chattls of Capt John Avery deceased; and that an Inventory 
there of be brought Into the next Court. 

It is ordered by the Court that the shriefe doe forth with Collect 
& pay unto William Darvall for the use of his sloop Carriing the 
burgles up to Chester and back Againe one Thousand pounds of 
Tobacco; and the Burgies doe Consent by reason that the sloop was 
hired Cheaper then the said WiUiam Darvall Could Aford it that they 
will pay as followeth out of their owne Estates; Edward Southrin 
one hundred pounds of Tobacco William Clark Two hundred pounds 
of Tobacco 'Luke Wattson Two hundred pounds of Tobacco Alexander 
Draper one hundred pounds of Tobacco ; Nathanil Walker one hun- 
dred pounds of Tobacco; Cornells verhoofe Two hundred pounds of 
Tobacco; and John Vines one hundred pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court Grant the Jurey An order for their fees In the Cause 
that they Try this Court betwene John Bellamey Pit and Henry Smith 
Junr deft. 



COURT RECORDS. 91 

It was publickly declared in Court this day that there was A plan- 
tacon house and foure hundred Acres of Land of William Coudrey 
secuate Lyeing and being on the south East side of Ceeder Creek within 
this County ne[ar] Adjoyning unto the Land of Alexander draper 
to be sold in open Court by order of Court and it was also sett up att 
the Court house door to give notice unto all persons whatsoever of 
the sale thereof to the End that the said plantacon Land and primisses 
might be sold to the best and most Advantidge that may be for him 
the said William Coudrey; it being for the bringing up the Child 
of the said William Coudrey Begotten upon the body of Sarah Warrin ; 
and also for the paying his debts that he owes in this Govermt and 
severall persons haveing beed for the said plantacon Land and pre- 
misses Coming up to the sume of seaven Thousand pounds of Tobacco 
which said sume was bed by John Hill; and After that William Dar- 
vall beed seaven thousand one hundred pounds of Tobacco; After 
that William Clark did beed seaven Thousand Two hundred pounds 
of Tobacco; and it being severall times Calld to see if any person 
would Exceed that price and none would; soe the said William Clark 
is to have the sd plantacon Land and primisses by order of Court 
for the sd sume of 7200 lb of Tobacco; And to be Accountable for 
the sd sume unto him that shall undertake to bring up the Child and 
the Craditer; the Child is undertaken to be brought up by the said 
William Clark untill it Attayne unto the Age of one and Twenty 
years for nineteene hundred pounds of Tobacco. 

The Court Adjurnes untill the 13th day of the 12th moneth next 
ensueing the date hereof. 

February 13th, 15th, 1682. 

Att A Court Held att Lewis for the County of Sussex by the Kings 
Authority & by Commisson from William Penn proletary [sic] And Gov- 
ernor of Pensilvania and the Territoryes thereunto belonging the 13th 
& 15th days 12 mo, 1682; Justices present: William Darvall, Luke 
Wattson, John Roades, Edward Southrin, Robert Hart, John Kiphaven. 

Halm Wiltbanck Agt Cornelis Johnson by way of searifacous. 
Last Court The said Cornelis Johnson was sumoned to shew Cause 
if any he Could wherefor he doe not give the said Halm Wiltbanck 
possession of the Land and premisses he Live upon. According to An 
order of Court and verdict of A Jurey of seaven men obtained in this 
Court the 8th day of the 1th Moneth 1681 ; The said CorneHs Johnson 
sheweth Cause by his plea delivered in to Court in writing; That he 
had obtained in this Court befor that time A verdict of A Jurey of 
Twelve men for the said Land and primisses According to the Laws 
of England and that the verdict of seaven men was and is Contrary 
to the Knowen Laws of England; And that the said Halm Wiltbanck 
did appeale from the verdict of the Jurey of Twelve men a foremen- 
tioned ; And that after he had Appealed he ought to have prosecuted 
his said Appeale And so A had no further triall for the said Land in 
this Court; And for the reasions and Causes A forsaid the deft doe re- 
fuse to deliver possession of the said Land and primisses ; which he 
Humbly Conceive may be Judged to be sufScent Cause by this Court ; 
The Court doe by the Consent of both parties Referr the bussnes un- 
till the proprietary Com here and have A hearing of the said Cause 
and Give his Judgment therin, 



92 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

An Action of the Case. Mathew Scarbrough Pit, Samll Jones 
Estate In Luke Wattson hands deft; [the Court order an non suit]. 

An Action of debt. John Hill Pit, Saml Jones Estate in Luke 
Wattsons hands deft; wittnes Thomas Davids. The Pit declared 
that the deft stands justly Indebted unto him in three Cows and three 
Calves by bills which the Pit proved; and the deft goeing out of the 
County and took no Care to satisfie the Pit; the Pit Caused what 
Effects the deft have in the said Luke Wattson hands to be Attached ; 
to the end that the Pit may be satisfied and paid the same with Cost 
of suit; the deft not Appearing the Court Refer the Cause untill the 
next Court befor they passe Judgment; [At a Court 14th 6 mo, 1683, 
refer'd till the after noon; The Court granted Judgment with Execu- 
tion against the sd Estate with Cost of Suit he giveing Security to 
ye Court to double the Vallu of this Action that if the Judgment be 
reverst within a twelve mon. & a day he must answer it.] 

An Action of the Case. John Hill Pit, John Smith Estate deft. 
[Refered untill the next Court.] 

Three Actions against "Saml Jones Estate in Henry Stracther 
hands" being those of John Hill, John Roades and Henry Stracther]. 

An Action of Trasspasse. Sarah Avrey Pit, Administratrix to 
Capt Jo Avery deceased. Rich Harvey deft. The Pit not Appearing 
to present hur suit and the deft Craveing a non suit the Court order 
an non suit to be entered Agt the Pit with Cost of suit Als Execution. 

An Action of the Case. Charles Bright Pit, Cornells Johnson deft. 
Wittnes Will Townsend baptis newcomb will Troter & Henry Har- 
mon. The Pit declare that the deft did Agree with him to make a Crop 
on his Land and that the pit was to have one thurd part of the Crop ; 
which the deft deney to let the pit have to his damiadg four Thousand 
pounds of Tobacco and proved that he did proceed in the making 
of the said Crop; the Court there for passe Judgment for the pit Agt 
the deft for the one thurd part of the Crop that the pit Can prove 
was made on the said Land the Last year with Cost of suit Als Exe- 
cution. Henry Harmon Testafied that he messured thurty three 
barrells of Indin Com that was made on the said Land that year. 

An Action of the Case. Sarah Avery Administratrix of the Estate 
of Capt John Avery deceased, William Traford deft. [The Pit not 
appearing a non suit was ordered by the Court.] 

This day Richard Patte Accknowlidge in open Court the sale of 
foure hundred Twenty one Acres of Land Eyeing on the South East 
side of the broad Creeke unto Thomas Hall his heires and Assignes 
for ever for which he Accknowlidg to have Received full satisfacon 
for the said Land and premisses and Ingage to procure A patton for 
the same. 

The Court upon the peticon of John Roades order him to be paid 
Twenty Shillings out of the Estate of Thomas Grindik deceased 
Twenty Shillings being for his fee as Crowner. 

Upon the peticon of Henry Bowman the Court Grant him an order 
to take up soe much Land in the neck betwene Slater Branh [Branch ?] 
and Ceeder Creeke As it shall Appear he is short of by being Invoysed 
in in three severall surveys. 

This day Andrew Depree Accknowlidg in open Court A patton 
and Conveyance of foure hundred Acres of Land unto John Depree 
and to his heires and Assignes for ever. 



COURT RECORDS. 93 

This day John Depree AccknowHdg in open Court the sale of three 
hundred Acres of Land unto Andrew Depree, etc. 

Upon the peticon of Georg Benson the Court Grant unto him three 
hundred Acres of Land at one penny ^ Acre yearly on Condicon that 
he seat the said Land with in one year After this Grant ; wart given 
out the 1 7th Insint. 

Upon the peticon of Thomas Adkinson the Court Grant him three 
hundred Acres of Land at one penny ^ Acre * * * wart given 
out 17th Insint. 

This day David Corsey Accknowlidged in open Court the sale of 
three hundred Acres of Land that have bene surveyed for him Lyeing 
Adjoyning to the Land of Thomas Pemberton and Jacob Shattham 
in the neck Called Winders neck unto John Hill and to his heires and 
Assignes for ever; and he doe AcknowHdg to have received full satis- 
facon for the said Land. 

This day Richard Bundock Assigned over In open Court unto 
Norton Claypoole and his Assignes one man servant by name Mathew 
osbome for three years from the seaventh day of this Moneth; And 
the said Mathew Consented unto the said Assignment and doe Ingag to 
serve the said nortton Claypoole and his Assignes the said time of 
three years on Condition that the said Nortton Claypoole doe save his 
Land that the said Mathew Have a Grant from this Court for; or sell 
the said Land to the satisfacon of the said Mathew; the said Mathew 
is to Allow or sarve for the time that he shall be Imployed in seating 
the said Land; All ways provided that it is the Custom of Vergina 
for servants that are Judged in Court to sarve untill they Attayne unto 
the Age of foure and Twenty years. 

This day John oakey Accknowlidg in open Court the sale of three 
hundred Acres of Land unto John Kiphaven and Alexander Moulston 
and to their heires and Assignes for ever which said Land Lye betwene 
the Land of Henry Smith and Samwell Gray and have received full 
Satisfacon for the same. 

This day Richard Bundock proved in Court the Last will and 
Testament of Richard Shoulter deceased by which said will the said 
Richard Bundock and Nathaniel Walker are made and appointed 
Executors of the said will and the Court doe Grant Letter of Admin- 
istracon unto them Accordingly. 

This day William Trotter Accknowlidged in open Court the sale of 
Nine hundred Acres of Land unto William Clark and to his Heires and 
Assignes for ever; the said Land Lyeing on the South East side of 
the Cold Spring Adjoyning unto the Land of the said William Clark 
Henry Smith Samwell Gray and Michall Chambe[rs]. In the Dockett. 

Test. Wm. Darvall. 

Harklos Sheepard peticoner. The peticoner sett forth by his 
peticon that Capt John Avery deceased did befor the peticoner was 
Joyned in Marridge with Mary the wife of the peticoner and daughter 
of the said Capt Avery that he would give unto your peticoner with 
his daughter A Certaine parcell or tract of Land which was Late in 
the occupacon of Thomas Davids together with the plantacon house 
and premisses there unto belonging which said Land Lyes Betwene 
the Land of John Depree and the Land that the widdow Avery now 
Lives upon; and that the said John Avery did After the said Marridg 



94 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

was solmonized Give your peticoner possession of the said Land and 
premisses; and that he did declare the same when he Lay upon his 
death bead and proved the same by the Testamony of severall wittnes ; 
the Court takeing the same Into their Consideracon and severall 
members of the Court haveing themselves hard the said John Avery 
say that his daughter Mary Should have the said Land; the Court 
there for passe their Judgment that the Land doe properly belong unto 
the peticoner and to his heires and assignes for ever. 

This Day Bryant Rowle Accknowlidged In open Court A Convey- 
ance of Two hundred Acres of Land unto Barnwell Garritt and to 
his heires and assignes for ever And Bartree the wife of the said Bryant 
Consented unto the same in open Court. 

Michall Chambers Accknowlidged in open Court this day the sale 
of Two hundred & Twenty Acres of Land unto William Trotter and 
to his Heires and Assignes for ever Lyeing and Adjoyning unto the 
Land that the said William Trotter Conveyed in Court this day unto 
William Clark. 

Upon the peticon of Sarah Avery the Administrix of John Avery 
deceased the Court is pleased to Remitt and for Give the fine of the 
said John Avery that is as yet unpaid being nine hundred and fiftye 
pounds of Tobacco. 

William Borne peticoner Agt John vines Sherife. The peticoner 
sett forth that he sustayned foure pounds six shillings damiadg In 
that the Shriefe did not take security from John Brigs to prosecute 
the peticoner when he Caused him to be a rested at the suit of John 
Beaman And Nichols Greenbury; and the peticoner proveing his said 
damiadge the Court Grant unto the peticoner An order Agt the said 
John vines Shriefe for the said sume of foure pounds six Shillings with 
Cost of suit Als Execution. 

Baptis Newcomb peticon that the Certivecate of survey of the Land 
that was surveyed for John Hagester deceased and by him Given to 
Ann his wife might be returned in the peticoners name ; the Court doe 
there for order that the Certivecate of survey be retume by the sur- 
veyor in the peticoner name he being Married to the Late wife of the 
sd John Hagester deceased. 

Upon the peticon of Barnwell Garritt the Court Grant unto him 
three hundred Acres of Land at one penny ^ Acre yearly on Condicon 
that he seat, etc. ; Wart Given out 1th Insint. 

This day the Inventory of the Lands Goods and Chattls of Thomas 
Grymdyk deceased was brought into Court which Amount unto the 
sume of foure pounds five shillings and foure pence; And Seaven 
Thousand pounds of Tobacco. 

This day Henry Harmon Accknowlidged In open Court the sale of 
six hundred Acres of Land house plantacon & premisses unto William 
Clark and to his heires Executors Administrators and Assignes for 
ever the said Land Lyeing on A neck of Land Called Kimble neck; 
Betwene the Land that Cornelis Johnson now Live upon and the 
Land that Cornells Johnson sold unto the said William Clark that 
John Streate is seated upon for the said Clark. 

Test. Wm. Darvall. 

The Shriefe peticon and sett forth that he have suffered for there not 
being A prisson in the County And Craves that the Court would be 



COURT RECORDS. 95 

pleased speedily to procure A prisson to secure those that shall be 
Committed to his Custidy; the Court taking the same Into their Con- 
sideracon doe therefor order that Luke Wattson be ordered forth with 
to build a Court Couse [sic] and prisson According to his Agreement 
with the Court the 1th 10 mo, 1680. Signed by William Darvall, 
John Roades, John Kiphaven, Edward Southrin. 

This day William Lowing Accknowlidged In open Court the sale of 
the one halfe part of three hundred Acres of Land and primisses Lyeing 
Betwene the Land of John Roades and William Roades unto William 
Darvall and to his heires and Assignes for ever the other halfe part of 
the Said Land being John Simons and his heires and Assignes for ever. 

This day Cam John Smith and in open Court Accknowlidged the 
Sale of three hundred Acres of Land unto John Hill and to his Heires 
and Assignes for ever the said Land Lyeing on A neck Called Kimbls 
neck Betwene the Land of William Clark Abraham Potter and John 
Vines; and did also Accknowlidge to have received full satisfacon for 
the said Land & premisses. 

Comelis Johnson this day Accknowlidged the sale of one hundred 
Acres of Land in open Court unto William Trotter and to his heires and 
Assignes for ever. The said Land Lyeing upon the neck Called Kimbls 
neck Adjoyning unto the Land of Richard Patte by the marsh side. 

The Court order that John Smith doe give good securety to Appear 
parsonably -at the next Court to be holden for this County to Answer 
then and there to such things as shall be objected Against him on the 
behalfe of the King or proprietary in the sume of fortye pounds sterl 
Money and in the meane time to remaine in safe Custidy; Att the re- 
quest of the said John Smith Henry Bowman and Stephen Whetman 
doe hereby Ingage themselves Joyntly and Severally in the said sume 
of fortye pounds sterl money to the proprietary for the said John 
Smith Appearance at the next Court as a for said Als Execution. 

Luke Wattson peticoner. The peticoner sett forth by his peticon 
that whereas he was oblidged to build a Court house and prisson ; and 
that sence that time the Govermt is Altered and that he is much Im- 
ployed in other publick bussnes soe that it would be much to his 
damiadg if he should be Confined to doe the said work; the Court 
taking the same into their Consideracon ; doe hereby order that he 
shall be released and discharg from the said Agreement all ways pro- 
vided that this order shall in no ways Release or discharge the Said 
Luke Wattson from the damiadg that the Shriefe hath or shall suffer 
for want of a prisson to this day. 

The Court Adjurne untill the second thurd day of the next second 
Moneth 1683. 

April 10th, 1683. 

Att A Court Held at the Towne of Lewis for the County of Sussex 
by the Kings Authority & by Commicon from Wilham Penn propri- 
tary and Governor of Pensilvania & Territoryes there unto Belonging 
the 10th day of the second Moneth 1683; Justices present Luke Watt- 
son, John Roades, Edward Southrin, Robert Hart, John Kiphaven. 

An Action of the Case upon an Attachment. Cornells Johnson 
Pit, Charles Brighte Estate deft. The Pit not Appearing to prose- 
cute his suit the Court order an non suit to be entred Agt the Pit with 
Cost of suit Alias Execution. 



96 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

An Action of the Case. John Barker Pit, Will Bradford deft. 
[As above.] 

An Action of ye Case. William Darvall Pit, William Borne deft; 
Wittnes Will Rodney & Marton Hoogland. Jureymen H. Bowman 
S. Gray G. Young H. Shepard J. CuUison J. Smith T. Haward 
W. Beverla J. Crew J. Simons M Chambers H. Strecher. The 
Pit declared that the deft stands justly Indebted unto him in Thur- 
teen Thousand Eightye Two pounds of Tobacco upon Acct and 
proved the same by the Testamonyof William Rodeney and IMarton 
Hoogland and the deft owne Confession; the Cause was Left to A 
Jurey who brought in their verdict that they find for the Pit with 
Cost of suit and one Shilling damiag the Court passe Judgment Accord- 
ing to the verdict of the Jurey Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case. William Borne Pit, William Darvall deft. 
The Pit not proceeding According to Law the Court order An non 
suit to be entred Agt the Pit with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

An Action of the Case, ffrancis Henry Pit, William Borne deft. 
The Pit declare that the deft stands Justly Indebted unto him in 
three hundred pounds of Tobacco for Carting of Timber to William 
Darvalls house at Lewis and proved the same the Court therfor 
passe Judgment for the pit Agt the deft * * * Execution given 
out the 1th 3 mo, 1683. 

This day John Johnson Senr Accknowlidge in open Court the sale 
of Two hundred Acres of Land unto John Hill & to his heires and 
Assignes for ever; the said Two hundred Acres of Land being part 
of the Land that was John Kings which was his IVIothers thurds. 

John Danill Peticoner Agt Nathanil Bradford. The peticoner 
sett forth that he was Transported out of Burbados Into Vergina 
to sarve for three years and that he was Sold for the same time to 
the deft; and that the deft have detained the peticoner foure years 
& Ten or Eleaven Moneths in his services and proved the same by the 
Testamony of Capt John Osborne one of the Justices of the peace of 
Sumersett County in the provience of Maryland; the deft sun pre- 
tending that the peticoner is not yet free the Court doe therefor order 
that the Cause be Refered untill the next Court and that the deft 
sun doe in the meanetime Give his ffather notice there of to the end 
that he may make his defence therein if any he Can at the next Court ; 
and that the peticoner in the meanetime shall have Libiart [sic] to 
procure further Testamony of what he declare; Refference. [At 
Court 14th 6 mo, 1683 "because neither Pit nor Deft appear'd the 
Action was dismist]." ' 

The Court Grant unto Arther Star one Towne Lott Adjoyning to 
Pagons Creeke for to sett up A Tan office. 

John Vines Shriefe & William Emmatt peticoners on the behalfe 
of themselves and the Inquest that sarve on the body of Thomas 
Grimdick deceased; and desier an order for theire feese in that Cause 
It being as Appeare by an Account produced in Court Three pounds 
nine shills and foure pence ; the Court Grant an order to the peticoner 
for the said sume of £S 9s 4d 'Agt the Estate of the said Thomas 
Grimdick deceased in the hands of Stephen Whetman his Adminis- 
trator with Cost of suit Alias Execution. 

The Court Adjurne Untill further order. 

Test. Wm. Clark. 



COURT RECORDS. 97 

May 27th, 28th, 1683. 

Att A Court Held at Lewis in the County of Sussex by the Kings 
Authority & by Comission from WilUam Penn Proprietary & Governor 
of the Provience of Pensilvania & Territories there unto Belonging; 
the 27th & 28th days of the Second Moneth Anno; Dm; 1683 ; present. 
Will Penn Proprietary, & Governor; Capt William Markham Deputy 
Governor; Justices: William Darvall, Luke Wattson, John Roades, 
Edward Southrin, Robert Hart, John Kiphaven. i 

An Action of Trasspase & Ejectment. John Bellamey pit, Luke 
Wattson deft; Henry Stracther Henry Skidmore Danil Browne 
Will Clark John Roades Skidemore & Clark again wittneses Tho 
Groves; Edmond Cantwell & Will Traford. Jureymen: Halmanias 
Wiltbanck Will Dere Stephen Whetman Rich Law Will Kening Jo 
Cullison Bryant Rowles Samll Gray Robt Harley Junr Henry Bow- 
man Baptis Newcomb Harclos Sheepard. The pit declared by his 
Attumey John Hill that the deft did Cutt fall and destroy severall of 
his Timber trees on the pits Land Lyeing at Slarter Branch on Prime 
hook neck; The deft plead that the Land is non of the pits but 
that the said Land is Capt Henry Smiths the Cause was Left to A 
Jurey and the above wittneses Excamined and the Cause pleaded to 
on both sides; And the whole matter being sumed up by the pro- 
prietary the Jurey went out and after a Long debate they brought in 
their verdict that they find for the deft; The pit by his Attumey 
Craves an Appeale to have the Cause trid befor the Governor & 
Provincall Council at Phelidelphia which the Court Grant unto the 
pit he puting in good & sufiicent securety to prosecute his said Ap- 
peale. 

This day Henry Jones Norton Claypoole and Alexander Draper is 
by the Inhabitants of this County Chosen and Appointed to be peace 
makers to end and detarmine all differances that shall any ways 
Hapen or Rise Betwene man and man if they Can; for one whole 
year now next ensueiug from the date hereof ; which said peace makers 
Are ordered and Appointed by the Governor & the rest of the Court 
to sitt about such Matters the Last thur[d] day of the week in every 
moneth. 

Henry Jones and Alexander Draper doe solmonly promise in the 
presence of God in open Court; that they will to the best of their 
Knowlidg and understanding discharge their office of peace Makers; 
for one year. 

The Laws of this Government was this day openly published in 
Court being the 28th day of the thurd Moneth about the Midle of 
the day. 

This day John Kiphaven Alexander Moulston Halmanias Wiltbanck 
Comelis verhoofe Comelis Johnson francis Henry Comelis Plockhoy 
Anthony Hamen [Hancen ?] Alias Haverla haveing publiquely in open 
Court solmonly promised and declared in the presence of God AUeai- 
_gance to the King of England his heires and successers; And fidelity 
to William Penn Proprietary and Governor of the provience of Pensil- 
vania & Territories thereunto belonging and to his heires & successers 
After which the Governor declared all of them to be Naterallized and 
as free men of this Government as any English men. 

The Court is Adjurned untill the second thurd day of the 4th mo, 
1683. Test. Wm. Clark. 



98 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province or Pen- 

SILVANIA & YE TrEITORY's THERE UNTO BELONGING. 

These are to will & require all persons wthin ye County of Sussex 
that have no Pattents for the Lands or are willing to have their 
Pattents [ren'd?] to send up their Certificates of Survey & Old Patents 
byWm. Clark Surveyor for ye Lower Counties, before ye 28th instant 
into my Secretaries Office, and appoint some person or other to take 
Patent out for them; given at Philodelphia ye 13th 4 mo, 1683. 

By Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province of Pen- 

silvania & territories thereunto belonging, & 

CouNciLL. A Proclamation. 

Whereas severall complaints have been made by the freemen & 
indwellers of this Province against their own servants who doe im- 
basell & dispose of the goods & monys of their Masters & Mistris : 
contrary to Law & Justice to the great loss & detremt of their sd 
Master & Mistris. These are therefore by the Kings Authority 
strictly to forbid all manner of People wtsoever at any time to give 
lend truck sell dispose pay or receive any manner of Cloathing goods 
or mony to or from any Servant whatsoever without their Master or 
Mistris Warrant for the same, & that if any person shall at any time 
take receive or possess goods of any kind or monys wtsoever from any 
Servant as aforesd or deliver or pay to any sucli servant any monys 
or goods whatsoever wthout Order as aforesd such offenders shall be 
lyable to pay to ye owner of such Servant double ye valine thereof 
besides ye sd goods & monys as a foresd wherefore every Justice of ye 
Peace are hereby strictly required and commanded & other ministers 
of Justice to make strict inquiery after such persons so offending & 
such severely to punish according to Law as they will answer ye 
contrary at their Peril. By Order of ye Governor & Councel. 

MooRE, Secretary. 
Given at Philodelphia ye 23th 3d mo 1683. 

By Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province of Pen- 

silvania &c & Provincial Councill Thereof. A Pro 

Clamation. 

For as much as there are severall unjust & unlawfull proceedings 
of severall persons yt have psumed to take Horses Boats & Canoies 
in this Province & Territories without leave from ye Owners to their 
great prejudice often pretending ye Horses are Strays & broken out 
of ye Fence as allso ye Boats &c were borrowed or runn adrift. The 
Governor & his Counc haveing taken this into their consideration 
for ye preventing of those unjust actions for ye future doe by these 
presents strictly charg & command all manner of persons who have 
ye administration of Justice in this Province & Territories thereunto 
belonging to punish all such offenders according to the Laws of this 
Province made & provided for in that behalf of wch all manner of 
persons are to take notice of, & so yeild All true obedience at their 
Peril. by Order of ye Governor & Councel 

N. Moore, Secretary. 

Given at Philodelphia ye 9th 4th mo, 1683. 



COURT RECORDS. 99 

By Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province of Pen- 

siLVANiA &c: & Provinciall Councell thereof. 

A Proclamation. 

The Law of God & Man requireing Sobriety & good Manners to 
be propagated & maintained in all Nations & Cuntryes & haveing as 
in duty bound a tender respect unto Gods Honor & ye good of ye 
Souls of ye People & desirous that all in all stations may doe well 
these are therefore to charg & strictly to command the Ministers of 
Justice & Magistrates of ye Province & Territories to Oversee ye 
manner of ye People & strictly to Punish & Suppress all disorders & 
Debaucheries wch are or shall be committed espeacially in any Or- 
dinary or Publique Drinking house & that without respect of Persons 
as you will answer the Neglect thereof at your Peril. 

By Order of ye Governor & Coun. 

N. Moore, Secretary. 

Given at Philodelphia the 9th of 4th mo, 1683. 

By Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor op ye Province of Pen- 

silvania &c & Provincial Councel thereof. 

A Proclamation. 

The Governor Provincial Councel & General Assembly haveing 
taken into their Serious consideration the present state & future 
good of this Province &c have made & provided divers good & whole- 
some Laws to encourage Virtue Trade & Comerce & to Punish & 
Suppress looseness & impiety wch distrpys all Civil society it hath 
pleased ye Governor & Council to Quicken the execution thereof & 
this day do therefore strictly require & command all Magistrates & 
Ministers of Justice forthwith to observe & execute or cause to be 
executed all the sd Laws in all Points without delay favour or affection 
upon ye Penaltyes therein expressed & all concerned are hereby, 
required to take notice thereof at their Peril. 

By Order of ye Governor & Councel. 

N. MoORB, Secretary. 

Given at Philodelphia ye 9th 4th mo, 1683. 

Aminadab Hanger his Cattell Mark: A Swallow Fork on both 
Ears & a hole on ye right Ear. 

Danll Helier his Cattell Mark: A Swallow Fork on boath Ears & 
under bitten on ye Left. 

Edward Sowthern's Brand Mark J 

In ye Name of God Amen 

I Edward Bootle of Deal County being Sicke & Weeke yett of 
sound & perfect Memory * * * 

Imprimus. I give & bequeath unto Mr. John Kipshaven Son John 
the one half of my land & plantation if it please God that I dye with- 
out Wife or Issue that is to say to him & his Heires for Ever never to 
be sould but to continue from Heir to heir for Ever. 

Item. I give and bequeath unto John Depree & his Son Jacob De- 
pree the other half of my Land & Plantation if it please God that I 
dye without Issue or Wife that is to say to them or their heirs for 
Ever, never to be sould but to continue from Heir to heir for Ever & 



100 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

if the said John Depree should dye now or before his Son Jacob comes 
to age then it is my "Will that Andrew Depree shall keep this Moiety 
of Land in his Possession untill the sd Jacob Depree doth come of 
Perfect Age & then to deliver the sd Jacob Depree possession of this 
said Moiety of Land. 

Item. I give to John Kipshaven all the goods that is in nay house 
if I dye this present. 

Item. I give to John Whittman one old Sow Called Sib * * * 

Item. I give unto Elisabeth Whittman Two Young Hens & a 
Cock * * * 

Item. I give unto Martha Kipshaven one young Sow wch came 
of that Old Sow * * * 

Item. I order 300 lb of Tobacco to be pd to Mr. Avery for Sur- 
veying the Land out of that 399 of Tobacco wch is due to me from 
John Oaky * * * 

Item. I give to Wm. Emmatt Junr one Grisled Sow bought of 
John Hackester * * * 

Item. I Order my great Barrow to be killed at my Funeral I 
order to be paid to Mathias Everson for SO lb of Tobacco that I owe 
him my White faced Barrow. 

Item. I order Mr. John Kipshaven to pay 60 lb Tobacco to Mr. 
Norton Claypoole. 

Item. [Order John Kipshaven & Jacob Depree and their Heirs 
for E\-er to pay something towards maintaining the Widdows & Fath- 
erless Children of this County * * * 

Item. Order that Mr. John Kipshaven & John Depree pay for the 
Pattent of my Land each of them his part * * * ] I have sett my 
hand & Seal the Seaventh day of December, 1682. 

The Mark of 

Edward A Boatle 
the mark of 
[Witnesses: — Jefiery X Summerford 
the mark of 
Steven S W Whitman 
Wm. Emmatt 

Mary Claypoole Daughter to Norton & Rachell Claypoole borne 
aboute the 1st Houre in the morning 10th day of the 8th Month 1682 
in the presence of Edward Sowthorns wife the midwife, Katherine 
Hews, & her daughter EUzabeth, Honor Clark, jonica Wiltbanck 
Margarett MoUeston, Sewsanna Grey, Sarah Stretcher, Sarah Bartlet. 

William Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province of Pen- 
silvania & the territories thereunto belonging. 

Reposeing confidence in thy Ability & Integrity I doe hereby con- 
stitute & appoint the Norton Claypoole of Lewis in ye County of Sussex 
to be Clark of ye Courts of Sessions to be holden for the said County 
to act theirin Justly & diUigently according to Law, to the best of 
thy understanding ; this Commission to be of force for One Year or 
untill further Order given at Philodelphia ye 12th 3d mo in ye 35 
Year of ye King, ye third Year of my Government & in ye Year of our 
Lord 1683. Wm. Penn. 



COURT RECORDS. 101 

Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor of ye Province op Pensil- 
vANiA & Territories thereunto belonging. 

By Virtue of the Authority derived unto me I doe hereby in the 
Kings name Constitute appoint and Authorise ye Alexander Moleston 
to be a Justice of ye Peace in ye Jurisdiction of ye County of Sussex 
giveing the full power to Act in ye sd Office according to Law & ye 
trust reposed in ye of wch all persons are to take notice & to give thee 
the due respect & Obedience belonging to thy place in the discharging 
of thy Duty this Commission is to be of Forse for ye space of One Year 
after the date hereof or till further Order given under my hand & 
Seal at Lewis in ye County of Sussex ye third day of ye third Month 
1683 being ye Second Year of my Government. Wm. Penn. 

These to Alexander Moleston. 

Wm. Penn Proprietary & Governor op ye Province of Pensil- 
vania & Territories thereunto belonging. 

To MY Loveing Freind Wm. Clarke: — Greeting. — By Virtue 
of ye Authority derived unto me I doe hereby in ye Kings 
Name constitute appoint & Authorise the Wm, Clark to be a 
Justice of ye Peace & President of ye Court of Justice in ye County of 
Sussex formerly called ye Whorekill, who with any three other Jus- 
tices shall be a Court of Judicature in ye sd County giveing the full 
Power to Act in ye sd Office according to Law & ye trust reposed in 
thee, of wch all persons are to take Notice & to give the due respect 
& obedience belonging to thy place in ye discharging of thy Duty 
this Commission to be in force for ye Space of One Year after ye date 
hereof or untill further Order. 

Given under my hand & Seal at Lewis in ye sd County of Sussex 
the First day of the third Month 1683. Being ye Second Year of my 
Government. Wm. Penn. 

The 12th of 4 Mon: 1683. The Justices present at a Court held 
for the County of Sussex: John Roads, Edw. Southern, John Kip- 
haven, Alexander MoUison. 

An Action of ye Case. Art Johnson Ver Kerk Pits, John Barker Deft. 
The Pits declares that he purchased a Sorrell Gelding of Alexander 
Oliver which sd Gelding Run at Jno Barkers Plantation, & yt the sd 
Oliver did give power unto ye Plants to take ye sd Gelding as by a bill 
of Sail from under the sd Olivers hand but when the Plant did goe to 
ye house of ye sd Barkers to Fetch away the Gelding the Deft would 
not suffer him bud did detain ye sd Gelding from ye Pit to his damidg. 
The Pit produced a bill of Sail for ye Horse the Deft said that he pur- 
chased the Horse before the bill of Sail was made, so it was referd till 
ye next Court. [At a Court 14th 6 mo, 1683 — "The Pit not appearing 
the Court granted a nonsuit against the Pit with Cost of Suite."] 

The Court Adjurn'd till ye 2d Tewsday 6 mo, 1683, Because they 
had not a Coppy of ye Laws of ye Govern. 

At A Court held at Lewis in the County of Sussex the 14th 6 mo, 
1683. Justices present : Luke Wattson, John Roads, Edward Southern, 
Alex. Moleston, John Kipshaven, Herculus Sheppard, Thomas Hart. 

An Action of Debt. Harman Cornelison Pit, Art Johnson Ver- 
kerk Deft; with drawn by ye Pits Order. 



102 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

An Action of Atachment. John Vines Pit, Peter Groningdike 
Deft. The Pit declares for Ten Pounds One Shil Six Pence due from 
ye sd Peter Groningdike for Sheriff Fees upon Accot. Withdrawn 
by Order of ye Pit. 

An Action of Atachmt. Cornelius Verhoofe Pit, Richard Dawsons 
Estate Deft. The Pit declares for Eleaven Hundred & Twelve Pounds 
of Tobaco for Clarks Surveighing One Thousand Acres of Land Re- 
fer'd wth consent of ye Plant. [The case again coming before the 
Court] * * * Richard Dawson being deceased the Court grants 
a Nonsuite against ye Plant. 

An Action of Debt. Hermanns Wiltbanck Pit, John Barnett 
Deft. The Pit declares for Eighteen Hundred Foot of Planck due 
upon bill. Withdrawn by ye Plant Order. 

An Action of Debt due to Hen Smith. Luke Wattson Pit, Georg 
Martins Cattell Deft. The Plant Petitions for One Thousand Four 
Hundred and Eighty Pounds of Tobaco due from Georg Martin to 
Capt Henry Smith which was proved in Court the 11 Mo, 1677 with 
alowable Interest from that time. Refer'd till next Court. * * * 
The Deft not appearing or Cornelius Verhoof Attumey for Georg 
Martin pleaded against the Accot or Debt & further saith Georg 
Martin hath no Cattill in the hands of Baptist Newcomb, it was re- 
fer'd to the next Court. 

An Action of the Case. Hermanus Wiltbanck Plant, Cornelius 
Johnson Deft. The Plant declares that the Deft unjustly detains 
from him a parcell of Land contrary to former Orders of Court & Gover- 
nors approbation which our said Proprietary allso did confirm the 
same promisses as was done by ye Court & Governor before onely 
was pleased to referr to the Peace makers whether their might be any 
thing due to ye Deft for his Improvements or not but the Deft refused 
to plead before the Peace makers or have any thing to doe with them, 
the Plant not proving his Declaration the Court granted a Nonsuit 
to the Deft against ye Plant with Cost of Suite. [Brought up again 
117 mon, 1683, when, the Court advi.sed them to refer all differences 
to Men to be ended & determined betwen this and the next Court. 
The Plant nominated Luke Wattson & Cornelius Verhoof. The Deft 
nominated Henery Stecher & John Hill. In case John Hill doth not 
come hether before the 22nd Instant then the Deft to choose another. 
Then in case of differences — they to choose an Umpire. 

An Action of Debt. Alexander Moleston Plant Richard Gill 
Deft. [Refer 'd till next Court.] 

An Action of the Case. Alexander Draper Plant, Robert Gillum 
Deft; [with drawn]. 

An Action of ye Case. Robert Gillum Plant, Charles Murffy Deft. 
The Plant declares for a bill or Note of One Thousand pounds of 
Tobaco payable by Edward Warner of Kent County unto the Plant 
which bill the Plant left in the hands of ye Deft for the use of Alex- 
ander Draper allso the Plant declares for one Coasting Coat the Deft 
took from the Plant & keeps it; with drawn by consent of both partyes. 

An Action of the Case by Attachment. Richard Gill Plant, John 
Savage his Estate in ye hands of Jno Crew Deft. [Refer'd till next 
Court for Judgment.] [11 7 mo, 1683, again refer'd.] 

Jefery Summerford Aged 43 years or there abouts & Elisabeth 
Johnson Aged 20 years or there abouts being examined saith that 



COURT RECORDS. 103 

they heard Elisabeth Leveritt declare about Eight or Ten days be- 
fore her departure out of this World that she did Will & Bequeath 
all what Estate she had unto Richard Bundick only one Cow Calf 
excepted which should be remaining for her son Richard Bracy at 
present & when Her Son Richard comes at Age the said Cow Calf 
with all her Increase to be dehver'd unto him by the said Richard 
Bundick. 

A Coppy of what was Sworn in open Court concerning the last 
Will & Testament of Elisabeth Leveritt Sworn by Jefrey Summer- 
ford & Elisabeth Johnson. Signed Jefery I S Sumerford 

Signed Elizabeth M Johnson 

Richard Gill aged 42 years or their abouts saith yt Elisabeth Lev- 
eritt about two or three days before she Dyed did Will & Bequeath 
unto Richard Bundick a Mare or a Thousand pd of Tobaco in Robert 
Bracy's hands for the which sd Mare the said Robert Bracy did pay 
One Thousand lb of Tobaco out of the said Elisabeth Leveritts Estate 
& further did declare that if the sd Robert Bracy did refuse to pay 
the said 1000 tb of Tobaco it would trouble her that would come again. 
Sworn in open Court by Signed Richard X Gill 

The Clarks Comition being Read, The Court Ordered ye Clarks 
Commition to be Recorded By Norton Claypoole [Clerricus?]. 

Joseph Lee Petitioner for a Town Lott which was granted upon 
the same Conditions of building as other's promis'd. 

Thomas Edwards & Wm. Loyd Servants to John Moore in Pocoson 
in Virginia near York River was apprehended by Stephen Whittman 
& brought to Court where they confessed themselves Servants as 
afores'd the Court therefore Ordered them to be kept by the Sherriff 
till he can send to their Mr according to ye Laws of this Government. 

Robert Bracy Petiti : this Court that the Bridg by Richard Bun- 
dicks may be speadily repaired the Court ordered William Bradford 
to gett the Bridg repaired wth speed. 

John Johnson Senior was brought before the Court under suspition 
of Murdering his Wife, & the Deposition of Jno Oakys & Jefery Sum- 
merford was read, & the Verdict of the Jury of Twelve Women that 
endeavored to view the Corp's the Jurys Verdict is wee whose Names 
are here subscribed have endeavored to view the body of Susan John- 
son and we could not discover one Sign of Murder. Jeffery Summer- 
ford denying that he saw the Roapes End strike her on the Burr of 
ye Ear which was one afHrmation in his Oath; & the Court therefore 
accounted his Oath of No Vallew, & the Crowner & Jury clearing 
John Johnson by their Verdict the Court therefore takes John John- 
son's word to appear next Court they intending to clear him if nothing 
more comes against him. 

The Court Order'd that the Appraisers of Capt Avery's Estate 
should appraise it as it was when he Dyed as near as could.be and if 
any of the 4 appraisers be wanting they may chuse another in his 
place & that Jno. Roads shall Swear them for the true appraising 
thereof. 

The Court Order'd John Roads to deHver Samll Jones bill into 
the Clarks Office. 

The Court Adjurned till the second Tewsday in the Nex Mon: 



104 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

August 31st, 1683. 

Att A Special Court Called upon the Petition of Fetter Adolph 
the 31th 6 men, 1683. Justices present: William Clark, Luke Wattson, 
John Roads, Robert Hart, Alex. Moleston, Edward Southern. 

An Action of the Case. Peter Adolph Pit, Hermans Wiltbanck 
Deft. The Plant declares that the Deft wrong fully detains & keeps 
from him Forty Pounds wt. of Silver Plate. The Defts Answer is 
that he keeps the Plate by virtue of a Contract made between them, 
& for the Consideration of wch Plate, the Deft is ingaged to mentain 
the Plant dureing his Life, the Plant produced his contract & one 
of ye Wettneses to Witt Will. Townsend declared that he saw the Plant 
sign & Seal the Contract according to the best of his knowledg but 
denyed to Swear possitively ; John Washington declar'd as an Evi- 
dence for the Plant the day before the Contract was signed (then he 
was very sick and as he thincks not able to make that marke as is 
fixed for him to ye Contract. Petter Designy Doctor affirms to his 
knowledg that ye Plant was not sensible to understand such a Con- 
tract about two days before it was dated. Robert Clifton affirms 
the day before this Contract was signed the Plant was not sensible. 
John Brown declared that he brought the Plant a Chest & sett it 
down by him and after he saw the Chest & tooke notice of it, yett he 
asked him again for it, and bid him aske what he would for it and 
he should have it for said the Plant I shall Dye. Harmon Comelison 
declared the Plant was very sick more like to dye then to live, ye 
day that this Contract was dated. 

The Jury's Names as Follows: — Alexander Draper, John CuUison, 
Anthony Heverly, Baptist Newcomb, Will. Kenny, Will. Foutcher, 
John Depree, Stephen Whitman, Robert Bracy, Robert Richards, 
Fran. Williams, Rich. Laws. The Deft for want of one of his Evi- 
dences to Witt Comeli. Verhoof desired a reflerence untill the next 
Court. The Court is Adjourned till ye after Noon & Order'd ye Plant 
to give Security to answer it next Court else come to Tryall. Her- 
manns Wiltbanck Deft haveing put in Security to answer the Action 
next Court, the Court grants him a refference till the next Court, 
withdrawn the 8th of the 7 mon. by the Plant Order. 

Mr. Clark & Mr. Sanders Commitions being read the Court Order'd 
them to be Recorded. 

Baptist Newcomb hath this day agreed with the Court, to bring 
and deliver at the Town Landing where the Shipp is building 
Eighty Cyprus Logs twenty two foot Long each Log to contain 
at least One foot in thickness at the great End besides the Bark 
to be delivered between this & the twentieth day of the next 8th 
mon. for which the Court hath Obleidged themselves to pay unto the 
said Baptist or his Order the Neat Quantity of three Thousand 
Pounds of Tobaco to be paid betwen this & the 25th day of the 
next 10th mon. which said Timber is for building of a Prison & 
Court house. 

The Court Ordered the Clark to write three Warrants to be di- 
rected one to each Cunstable Will. Carter Will. Foucher & John 
Richards for them to take an Accot of all the Tithables in their pre- 
cincts & give in the Accounts to the next Court that is all males above 
16 & under 60. 

The Court Adjurn'd till the 11th day of ye next Month. 



COURT RECORDS. 105 

Septejiber 11th, 1683. 

At a Court Held at Lewis in the County of Sussex the 11th of the 
7th Mon. 1683. Justices present: William Clark, Luke Wattson, 
Robert Hart, Alexander Moleston, Herculus Shepard. 

An Action of ye Case upon Atachment. Hermanus Willtbanck 
Plant, The Estate of Wm. Beverly Deft. The Plant declares for 
Seaventeen Pounds thirteen Shil Nine Pence due upon Accounts the 
last Court the Deft Petiti. for a Refierance till this Court by reason 
that his prinsipal Evidence Henery Strecher who hath all his Write- 
ings & Accounts are gon up the River & other of his evidences are 
not here which was granted till this Court, after much is put on both 
sides and many Objections against the said Account the Court ad- 
vised them to refer it to men & accordingly the Plaintiff nominated 
Norton Claypoole the Defts chose Wm. Emmit & they doe declare in 
open Court that they doe refer all differences that are betwen them to 
the sd William & Norton giving them full power (if they cannot agree 
the said differences by or before the 20th day of this Instant) to chuse 
an Umpire to end & determin the sd differences & they doe premiss 
to Forfeit One Hundred Pounds if either of them refuseth to stand to 
the Award or determination of the said persons Nominated & Chosen 
or the Umpire which shall be chosen by the sd Norton & William. 

An Action of ye Case. William Clark Plant, Edw. Southern Deft. 
* * * ye Plant not being here the last Court it was Refer'd by con- 
sent of the Deft till this Court, the Deft being absent upon the Pub- 
lick bussiuess it wa.s, refer'd to the next Court. 

An Action of ye Case upon Atachment. Cornelius Johnson Plant, 
Charles Brights Estate Deft, in ye hands of. Com. Johnson. The 
Plant Petiti. last Court for one Cow & Seaven Barlls of Corn which 
is in the hands of ye Plant towards the satisfying of the Plant Three 
Thousand Five Hundred Pounds of Tobaco and by the Account unto 
the Plant from Charles Bright John Hill in the behalf of Henery 
Bowman proved that Charles Bright before his departure out of this 
County Sould the Cow to Henery Bowman, as for the Seaven Barlls 
of Corn that was refer'd to this Court the Plant not proveing that he 
had any such parcell of Corn in his Hands they Order'd a Nonsuite 
against the ye Plant. 

An Action of ye Case. Hermanus Willtbanck Plant, Richard Gill 
Deft. [From last Court. At this Court] * * * We the Jury doe 
find for the Deft * * * yg Jurys Names Robert Bracy Antony 
Heverly Roger Gum Bap. Newcomb John Barker Wm. Kenny Will. 
Foucher John Depree John Simons Robert Richards Fran. Williams 
Stephen Whittman. 

An Action of the Case. John Daniel Plant, William Bradford 
Deft. The Plant declares for satisfaction for near two Years Service 
which he hath served the Deft more than his time of servitude allso 
declares for freedome Mony as ye Law ^ vides. The Plant proved that 
he had served about one Year Nine Months more then his time of 
Servitude & they both refering it to the Court without a Jury the 
Court Order that the Deft Should pay to the Plant or his Order by 
and with the consent of the deft Three Thousand Pounds of Tobaco 
for whole satisfaction ye Deft to pay Cost. 

William Emitt Deputy Coroner Plant, John Johnson senior. The 
Deft was oblidged last County Court to make his ^ sonal appearance 



106 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

before the Court to answer all & every such person that might or 
should appear against him on the Kings behalf to give evidence 
against or ^ secute him further on suspition of Murdering his Wife 
the last Court intending that if no body appeared further against 
him this Court & no further evidence given to sett him at Liberty 
^ clamation being made and no ^ son appearing further against him 
he was cleared. 

Abraham Pettors Pet. for a Town Lott being read was granted 
upon the same condition as Other Lotts were granted. 

Thomas Edwards kept in Custody for a Runn away petitioned for 
his liberty the Court order him to be kept in Custody till next Court 
unless his Mr. comes or sends for him. 

Mr. Luke Wattson signd & Seald a Conveyance of One Hundred 
Ninety Six Acres of Land called St. Giles to Samll Gray his Heirs 
Executors Administrators or Assignes for ever in open Court the 11th 
of the 7th Month 1683. 

Will Carter Peti. that whereas his ^decessors Otto Woolgast had 
but 300 Acres of Land Surveyed upon a grant or Warrant of 400 
Acres that he may have the other hundred Acres Surveyed unto the 
other thre Hundred Acres. 

Robert Johnson Petitioned against the Estate of Thomas Grin- 
dick for Twelve days work at 30 lb ^, day coming to Three Hundred 
& Sixty pounds of Tobaco. 

William Bradford Petitioned that as the Court hath appointed him 
one of the Oversers of the High Ways that they will please to lett him 
know the bounds or Limitts of his precincts the" Court Order'd he 
should have a Warrt. to summons in the inhabitants to help to mend 
the Ways and in the Warrant the Bounds of his Precincts shall be 
specified. 

Whereas Will. Simmons had a Warrant from this Court for 300 
Acres of Land which said Warrant Cornelius Verhoof doth declare 
he did never survey any Land upon that Warrant, therefore the 
Court granted that the said Simons may have his Warrant re- 
newed. 

Norton Claypoole acknowledged the Sale of One Thousand Acres 
of Land to John Glass & John Swain lying & being on the other side 
of ye Indian River whereof Wm. Kenning declared in open Court that 
he by Norton Claypools Order & apoyntment deliver'd them pos- 
sesion by Turf & Twig. 

The Jury Petitioned for there Fees according to their Summons in 
Fetter Adolphus Cause and Hermanns Cause against Cornelius 
Johnson the Court therefore Order'd the Jury to have two shil a man 
for so many of them as appeared the Two days for Petter Adolphus 
& those that served but one for Petter Adolphus but 16d ^ man the 
other 8d ^ man & they of the Jury that were Sworn & Summon' d to 
serve in Hermanus his Cause to have 16d ^ man. 

The Court Adjourn'd to the Second Tewsday of the 9th Month. 

November 13th, 14th, 1683. 

At A Court Held at Lewis for the County of Sussex by the Kings 
Authority & by Comition from WilHam Penn propriator of the Prov- 
ince of Pensillvania and the territorys thereunto belonging the 13th 
& 14th days of the 9th month 1683. Justices present: William 



COURT RECORDS. 107 

Clark, Luke Watson, John Roades, Edward Southorne, John 
Kipshaven, AUexandr MoUeston, Robt Hart, Herculus Shepard. 

An Action of the Case. William Clark Pit, Edward Sowthorne 
deft; twice Referrd. Tne pit declares for two thousand foure hun- 
dred iS: two pounds of tobacco & one pounds sixteen shillings in Mony 
& three hundred pounds of porke dew upon acount; it hath bene 
twice Referd by Reason of the pit & deft absence being Imployed on 
publick buisness. The deft objected agst two articles in the pits 
Acount viz Stephens & Booths Grant & Warrant for Land as not dew 
to him to pay & allsoe agst one Article of 800 lb. tobaco of Will. 
Emmit's, The deft preferr'd an Acount agst the pit, the deft allsoe 
pretended 2000 lb. tobaco dew to him upon two parcells of Land sould 
unto the pit which wass in Maryland. The pit proved his Acount by 
his declaration & testimony of the truth of it and after pleading to on 
both sides the Jury went oute but had not Edward Sowthorns Acount 
with them; The jurye brought in theire verdict Wee of the jury doe 
finde for the pit with Costs Henry Bowman foreman the Court pass 
Judgment accordingly alias Execution Jurys Names viz Henry Bow- 
man, John Deprey, Samwell Leonard, Halm Wiltbanck, Will. 
Be^■erly, Will Kenning, Peter Designy, Jno Barker, Robt Twilly, 
Robt Bracy, Jno King, Jno Symons, the Court ordered to be Entered 
or Recorded as foUoweth Edward Sowthorne did say & Affirme that 
the judgment of this Court is erronius agst him in this Action, The 
Court ordered him by fine to pay five pounds sterl. for the derogation 
of sentence of Court, The Court allsoe fines him ten shillings for saying 
or swearing * * * [The defendant was ordered to be taken from 
Court by the Sheriff and returned three times. Called William Clark, 
the president, "A Lyar," and did so much swearing that the Court 
imposed three fines of ten shillings each for the offense]. 

A prisoner by Mittimus. Abram Westrom Pit, Symon A Dutch- 
man deft. The Mittimus declared that the prisoner or deft hath 
pretended himselfe to be A sorcerer or Conjuror. The Pit not Apearing 
to prosecute the prisoner or deft The Court ordered A nonsuite agst the 
Pit with Costs & that the prisoner be released oute of prison. 

Cristian the Indian by way of Complaint brought two bills one 
whereof was against Cornells Verhoofe & John Vines of which their 
apears to be remaining dew one third part of twelve botles of Indian 
Drinck foure duble handfuUs of powder & three staves of Lead. 
The Court therefore orders that Cornells Verhoofe & John Vines pay 
the Pit what is dew within A Month. The other bill is against the 
servant of CorneUs Verhoofe Called John Pye for two Matchcoates 
which the Court ordered he should forthwith pay unto the Pit other- 
wise for Not payment Execution to be granted within A Month. 

John Street petitioned for one hundred & fifty Acors of Land where 
he may find it Cleare in this County which th Court Granted; Warrant 
given oute 15th 9th Month 1683. 

The Court fines WiUiam Beverly & John Barker jurymen for not 
Attending the Court Twenty Shillings pr man. 

The Court fined CorneHs Johnson for Abusing the Court & telling 
Luke Watson one of the justices he cared not A — — for him twenty 
Shillings. 

WilUam Carter petitioned the Court for three hundred Acors in this 
County, which the Court Granted. 



108 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Court fined William Emmitt Twenty Shillings for saying that 
the Court gives the Land to Cornelis Johnson th [ ] is a diference between 
Halm Wiltbanck & Cornelis Johns[on] and afterward he being very 
peremptory giving ill Langua[ge] to the Court they fined him five 
pounds more. 

Proclamation being made there is now to be Exposed to sale five 
hundred Acors of Land scituation of which by Cirtificate of Survey 
may Apeare & two hundred Acors m[ore] in the forke of the Cypruss 
Swamp belonging to the broad Kill which seaven hundred Acors of 
Land did belong to Thomas Grindike deceased for which Land severall 
persons bid mor[ ] But Mr. Griffen Jones of Phylodellphya Merchant 
being t[he] last & hyest bidder bought the sd seaven hundred Acors of 
La[nd] at two thousand three hundred pounds of tobaco to be pd 
between this & the next first month to Stephen Whittman Admins- 
trator of the sd Estate the Cirtificate of Survey was delivered to Grifen 
Jones above mentioned every one ytis A Creditor in the said Estate 
are required to bring there Acounts in to the Next Court & soe every 
one to have an equ[al] proportion of the Estate Acording to his Acount. 

William Emmit petitioned the Court that his fine or fines might be 
remitted Acknowledging himselfe to be sorry for his fault therefore 
the Court upon his Submition ye Court hath remitted his fine of five 
pounds. 

Henry Stretcher Peter Designy Daniell Hillyard and John Ross 
petitioned the Court that they might have satisfaction for their time 
& labour spent one day & night fetching the old boate & Apurtenances 
with the old tooles with A Woman & two Chilldren which they found 
at Cape James to this towne the Court ordered them ten shilHngs pr 
man to be pd oute of the boate & what belongs to her after the boate 
is sould. 

Arthur Starr petitioned the Court that he might have A front Lott 
in the towne Instead of A back lott Which the Court formerly Granted 
him; This Court Grants him A lott instead of his back lott Adjoyning 
upon William Trottors in the second strete if Clear or elce the next 
lott upon Condition that he build a dwelling house by the next second 
Month or elce forfeit five pounds Ster. 

Forasmuch as these overseers of the hyeways that hath served last 
yeare hath not done the worke According to their order the Court 
thinks fitt to continue the said overseers till the next 7th Month 1684 
John Hill having Entered himselfe into the Imployment of the sosyety 
Sam well Gray is Chosen & Apoynted to serve in his place. 

Warning being given by the SherrifE to the people to bring in their 
Acounts to the next Court of what they have Expended to serve the 
publick; the Court is Adjourned to the second twesday of the Next 
Month. 

December 11th, 1683. 

At A Court Held at Lewis for the County of Sussex * * * the 
nth day of the 10th Month 1683. Comitioners present: William 
Clarke, Luke Wattson, John Roades, AUexander Molleston, Herculus 
Shepard. 

Robert Johnson petitioned agst the Estate of Thomas Grindike 
deceased. Twice Referrd. The petitioner petitioned last 7th Month 
Court against the Estate of Thomas Grindike for 12 days worke at 3016 



COURT RECORDS. 109 

tobaco per day corns to 360tb tobaco, for want of Witnesses the 
Cause was Referrd to this Court. The petitioner proved his worke or 
labour performed & did Acknowledge he had receid in part of satis- 
faction one Gallon Rum at [and?] lOOlb tobaco. The Court judged 
twenty pounds of tobaco pr day to be Enough for his worke — there- 
fore they ordered the petitioner one hundred and forty pounds of 
tobaco, if the Estate hold oute to satisfye all debts if not he should 
have his proportion. 

Edward Sowthome Acknowledged the sale of foure hundred Acors 
of Land which he now lives upon unto Griffen Jones of Phylodelphya 
Merchant, with the Apurtenances thereunto belongin acording to 
Articles of Agreament made & Concluded upon. 

John Depree petitioned the Court that he might be allowed for two 
Wolves heads & Xinety five pounds of porke he lent the Burgesses 
which they ordered should be allowed him. 

Thomas Hancock petitioned the Court for three hundred Acors of 
Land that is Clear in this County. The Court Granted on Condition 
that he should pay one penny an Acor yearely from the time of the 
Survey & that he shall seat build & Improve it within A yeare after 
the Survey. 

John Browne petitioned the Court for A towne Lott Convenient 
to build A Sloope or Shallop. The Court Granted that he might have 
A towne Lott that is Cleare that Lott where the vessell is on tlie stocke 
A building Excepted the petitioner to forfeit five pounds if he doth 
not build A dwelling house within one yeare. 

[The Court fines William Beverly twenty Shillings for Abusing the 
Court etc.] 

The Court fines John Vines Henry Stretcher Andrew Depree & Barns 
Garrat fifty pounds tobaco pr man for Smoakin tobaco in the Court 
house [and later Allexander MoUeston same amount for same offence]. 

The Court fines Allexander MoUeston fifty pounds tobaco for smoakin 
in the Court house, [ditto Luke Watson]. 

Robert Johnson petitioned the Court that he might be allowed 
lOd. pr day for his 12 days worke that he did for Thomas Grindike 
for finding himselfe dyet during that time. The Court would not 
allow it, but order'd it to be Cast oute. 

Robert Hignett Senior petitioned the Court for five hundred pounds 
of Tobaco dew to him for being Cryer of the Court for one yeare as 
heagread with the Court and yt he might have it pd oute of the fines 
or Amercements. 

The Court Adjourned to the second Twesday of the 12th Month 
following. 

February 12th, 13th, 1683. 

At A Court Held by the Kings Authority * * *' the 12th & 
13th days of the 12th Month 1683. Comitioners present: William 
Clarke, Robert Hart, Allexander MoUeston, Luke Wattson, John 
Kipshaw, John Roades, Edward Sowthorne & Herculus Shepard. 

An Action of ye Case. Halm Wiltbanck pit. Estate of George 
Andrews being A Cow & A Calfe deft; once referd. The last 10th 
Month Court The Pit declared for two pounds foureteen shilUngs dew 
to him from Georg Andrews upon Acount; It was Referd to this 
Court. The Pit being dead the Action falls. 



) 



110 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

An Action of the Case. Robt Johnson Pit, William Butlor deft. 
The Pit declares declares for two hundred Acors of Land that he bought 
of the deft, & Craves Judgment of the Court that the deft May be 
Compelled to give him Legall posetion thereof & to ma[ke] him good 
title thereunto with Costs; the Deft pleaded that the Pit was obliged 
to make A Chimny A Clap board loft and partition Richard Laws 
& Joane Street declared * * * that the deft promised this Morn- 
ing to make A Conveya[nce] of the said Land unto the Pit they 
allsoe declared that the Pit did allsoe promise to pay unto the deft 
foure hundred pounds of tobaco, Richard Laws Engaged the Pit 
should pay unto the deft foure hundred pounds of tobaco in A Month 
Will. Emitt engaged that the Pit should finish the house as the 
deft pleased & declar[ed] he was obliged to doe, that is to say A 
Chimny A Clap board lof[t] & partition, upon which Engagements 
the deft therefore did Acknowledge in open Court all his Rite & 
title to the tw[o] hundred Acors of Land, lyeing & being upon the 
great Kill unto Robert Johnson the Pit which is adjoining to the land 
of Otto Wulgast. 

Randalph Shard Chirurgeon & Physitian agst the Estate of Cor- 
nelis Verhooft, for five pounds Ster. dew to him for his paines care 
& Medicins used to Cornells Verhoofe in the time of his sickness, 
the petitioner proved by two Wittnesses that Cornells did in his 
life time consent [to] allow him soe much, therefore the Court 
ordered him A judgment for the said Sib Ster agst the sd Estate 
of Come[lis] Verhoofe, with Costs; Execution given out 27 day 
12 mo, 168[?]. 

William Cartor petitioned the Court for A towne Lott fironting 
the Creek the first that hapeneth to be cleare the Court grants him 
that Lot next to John Roades fronting ye Creek upon Condition that 
he builds A dwelling house upon the sd Lott within one yeare after 
this day or else forfeit five pounds Ster. 

William Clarke petitioned the Court for two towne Lotts upon the 
North side of the Cross street fronting the Kreeke the Court Grants 
him those two lotts on Condition that he builds two dwelling houses 
one upon each Lott * * * 

Symon Pawlin being Chosen Cunstable did promise in the presence 
of God faithfully & truly to ofitiate the place or office of a Cunstable 
for one yeare or till another was Chosen. 

John King being Chosen Cunstable did promise the same as Symon 
Pawlin did. 

Andrew Depree petitioned agst John Oaky for the Meat of A sow 
of the petitioners that John Johnson junior Killed, which meat was 
carryed to John Oakys John Johnson senior testimony with Jeffery 
Summerfords was taken but not sufitient prove that John Oaky had 
the meate therefore the Court advised Andrew Depree to send Hue 
& Crye after the sd John Johnson to bring him back againe which he 
promised to doe. 

The Court ordered the Sherriff to take Mary Oaky into his Custody 
till she pays five shillings for swearing in the face of the Court * * * 

The Court fines AUexander MoUeston five shilhngs for swearing 
* * * 

John Roades petitioned the Court for A towne Lott fronting the 
Creek next Adjoyning to those two Lots that was Granted this Court 



COURT RECORDS. Ill 

to William Clarke which was Granted by the Court if Cleare on ye 
same conditions. 

The Court Grants the jury an order for theire ffees in five Actions 
viz Luke Watson agst Walter Pomfry Estate Wm Beverly Jno Barker, 
Peter Designy agst the Estate of George Andrews Norton Claypoole 
Pit Babtist Newcome deft. 

Luke Watson petitioned the Court for A towne Lott fronting the 
Creeke on the south side of that strete yt goes up to the place where 
the Court house is to be build the lot formerly granted to Wil. Dar- 
vall but now Cleare, which if Cleare the Court grants on the same con- 
ditions as to others. 

John Vines Sherrifif petitioned the Court for A front Lott in the 
towne which they Granted Next to William Cartors, on the same Con- 
ditions. 

John Grantam petitioned the Court for a front Lott in the towne 
if Cleare or otherwise A back lott next unto the ffront, which the Court 
Granted on the same Conditions. 

Roger Gum petitioned the Court for A front Lott they Granted 
him A back lott on the same Conditions. 

Major Spencers letter to Mr. William Clarke desiring him with the 
rest of the Court to rectifye A Mistake in his Levyes he being 
Charged for his owue head & is above 60 yeares of Age & one of his 
Men gon from him before the list was taken the Court allowed his 
head to be abated but not his man. 

John Walker petitioned the Court for 30, or forty Acors of Cleare 
land betwene Babtist Newcome & the Widow Hall, which the Court 
Granted if Cleare Warrant given oute the ISth 12th mo, 1683. 

The Indian Assawmack Harmattamale Acknoledged in open \ 
Court the sale of one thousand Acors of Land to Mr Allexander Mol- ■ 
leston which land is on the south side of the Indian Rivor. 

Willam [sic] Cartor Petitioned the Court that he might [have] 
some Consideration or satisfaction for his time paines & troub[le] 
that he spent aboute taking the Levys ; but the Court refused alleadg- 
ing it was the Kings buisness. 

William Wargent Petitioned that he might have his La[nd] Sur- 
veyed that Otto Wulgast tooke up on Mill Creeke in Cantwells Neck; 
which the Court Granted; the land being foure hundred Acors. 

Robert Johnson petitioned the Court for one hundred & fifty Acors 
of Cleare land in any prt of this County; which the Court Granted; 
Warrant given oute ISth 12 mo, 1683. 

The Court Adjourned this 13th day of the 12 month 1683 untill 
the second twesday of the next month. 

WiUiam Bakers Eare marke for his Creetures the left Eare Crapt 
the Right Eare under bitten the first day of the 1st month 1683. 

Robert the son of Norton & Rachell Claypoole borne the 26th day 
of the nth Month 1683 aboute the 11th houre at night in the presence 
of Elizabeth the wife of Symon Pawlin the midwife Susanna the wife 
of Dennis ffisher & Elizabeth Tompson oure maid servant. \^ 

The 10th day of the first Month the freemen of this County being \^ 
Assembled together did Chuse for their Dellogates or representatives i 
for the Provintiall Counsell & Generall Assembly: Luke Watson for the , 
Provinciall Councell; John Roades, Henry Bowman, Herculus Shepard, I 
Samwell Gray, William Emitt, Henry Stretcher for the Assembly. / 



112 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

William Prentice Bill of Sale for three hundred Acors op 
Land to Luke Watson. 
Know all men by these presents that I William Prentice of the 
County of Sumersett planter hath sould unto Mr Luke Watson of 
Lewis one tract of Land containing three hundred Acors formerly 
surveyed by Mr ffrancis Jenkins, Lying of the North side of Slawtor 
Creek near Primehooke, to have & to hold the Aforesaid trackt of 
Land, to him the said Luke & his Heires for ever, from me & my 
heires, or any other person Claiming in thorough [sic] or by me, having 
recevd full satisfaction for the same as wittness my hand & seale this 
30th July 1683. 
Testes Hen Smith Will: Prentice 

Thomas Pettly his O marke [seale] 

February 11th, 1684. 

At A Court Held by the Klings Authority & by Comi. from William 
Penn Propriator & Governor * * * at Lewis for the County of 
Sussex the 11th day of the first Month 1684. The Governors New 
Comition being read for William Clarke to be President & Luke Wat- 
son, Jno Roads John Kipshaven Robert Hart AUexander Draper & 
Robert Bracey to be Justices of the Peace for this County & any 
foure of them to keep Court Judicature in this County. This Declara- 
tion following was read: — 

Wee William Clarke Luke Watson John Roades Herculus Shepard 
John Kipshaven Robert Hart AUexander Draper and Robert Bracy 
being by William Penn Esq Proprietary & Governor of Pensillvania, 
& territorys thereunto belonging Constituted & Authorised to be 
Justices of the Peace & A Court of Judicature for County of Sussex 
to Act in the same Imployment and trust for the preservation of 
the peace & Justice of the County In pursuance of oure said Comition 
acording to Law; Wee doe hereby in the presence of God declare 
that wee freely Acknoledge the said William Penn to be oure right- 
full Proprietary & Governor; & doe solemnly promise by the Held 
of God to be just & true to him in managing & performing oure sd 
trust & faithfully discharging the same in obedience to oure said 
Comition & act therein according to the best of oure understandings; 
& if wee shall Wittingly or Willingly act or doe any thing contrary 
to Law [?] fidellity to oure Proprietary & the trust reposed in us by 
him : Wee doe hereby oblige oureselves to suffer & undergoe the same 
fine or punishment that the matter shall in Law deserve as if wee had 
actually taken an oath; which they Consented to withoute any ob- 
jection. Allexander Draper [seal] 

Robert Bracy 
his R B marke [seal] 

Hercules Shepheard [seal] 

The new Comition for ffrancis Cornwall & Robt Clifton to be 
Justices dated the 9th 2 mo, 1686, being read ye 8th 4 mo, 86 hey 
signed and sealed it before the Court. [F ?] Cornwall [seal] 

the Marke of R Robert Clifton [seal] 

There being present this Court: William Clark president Luke 
Watson John Roades John Kipshaven Robert Hart Allexander Draper 
and Robert Bracy Justices. 



COURT RECORDS. 113 

Thomas Winns Comition dated 13th 2 mo, 1687 was read in open 
Court the 3 3 mo, 1687 for him to be one of ye Justices Whereupon 
he declared his willingness to signe the above Declaration. 

Tho: Wynne. 

An Action of ye Case. Mathew Scarborow Pit, Robt Clifton Marying 
the Rellix & Administratrix of Capt John Avory deft. The Pit de- 
clares that Capt John Avory detained from him A Mare with her 
Encrease & the deft having the Estate of Capt John Avorys in his 
hands * * *. 

An Action of the Case upon Attachment. Jonakin Wiltbanck '\ 
Administratrix of the Estate of Halm Wiltbanck Pit, George Andrews ^ 
Estate being A Cow & A Calfe deft. The Pit declares that George 
Andrews is Indebted to the Estate of Halm Wiltbanck * * * 
The Jury's names are Herculus Shepard, William Cartor, William 
ffutcher, Richard Harvey, Stephen Whittmau, Thomas Howard, 
Richard WilUs, Jacob Warren, Henry Scidmore, Richard Law, Mor- 
rice Edwards, Andrew Deprey. 

An Action of the Case. Abell Portor Pit, Henry Bowman deft. 
The Pit declares that his servant Henry Williams A Cooper being 
run away & taken up in these parts the deft did Engage & promise 
to be security for his forth Coming upon demand, & the deft now re- 
fusing to procure or produce the said servant, the Pit Craves Judg- 
ment of this Court agst the deft for the sum of thirty five pounds 
ster. Mony of old England with Costs; The deft doth owne in open 
Court that he did promise to be security for the servants forth coming 
according to declaration but Craves A Refferance till next Court 
which the Court Granted. At Court held 4 mo, 10, 1684 — The Jury's 
Names — William Emmitt, Babptist Newcome, Will. Cartor, Thom. 
Hodgkins, Will ffoutcher, Bryant Rowles, John Browne, John King, 
Roger Gum, Jno. CuUison, Henry Harman, & Richard Patty. 

The Court ordered the Jury their ffees in two Causes viz Jonakin 
Wiltbanck agst Georg Andrews his Estate & Henry Stretcher agst 
Waltor Pomfrys Estate. 

The Court fines John Barker Juryman for not Attending the Court 
ten shillings; John Barker pleaded that his horse being loose was 
going away & he went to bring him back therefore desired his fine 
might be remitted, upon which the Court remitted his fine. 

Thomas Edwards Petitioned the Court for his liberty on which 
there was an Acount delivered to the Court from his Mr Jno More 
Amounting to ten thousand & Eighty pounds of tobaco & fouretene 
pounds Nineteen shillings Ster. mony agst him which he could not 
answer therefore consented to be sould for three yeares by the Court 
for satisfaction to his Mr John More. Thomas Edwards servant to > 
John More in Virginia [is] by his, owne consent sould by the Court ^ 
to William Cartor, for three yeares service from this day for foure 
thousand six hundred pounds of tobaco for the use of ye sd John More 
to be pd the next fall, Thomas Edwards to have his freedome mony 
according to Custome when he is oute of his time. William Cartor 
confessed Judgment for the sd sum or m[ony] quantity of foure thou- 
sand six hundred pounds of tob[aco] to be pd next fall to John More 
of Yorke County in Virginia or to his Heires Executors Administra- 
tors or Assignes. 



114 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

William Carter petitioned agst the Estate of Corne[lis] Verhoofe 
for three hundred fifty foure Gilders ten stive[rs] dew upon Acount, 
The Acount being writt in dutch i[t] is suposed by Abram Clement 
for Otto Vulgast, Will[iam] Emmett Translated the Acount into 
English & did Attest it to be A true Copie of the said Acount, the 
Court believing the Acount to be true passed Judgment for the pe- 
titioner agst the Estate of the sd Cornelis Verhoofe for the 'sum of 
354 Gilders 10 stivors with Costs of suite. 

Nathaniell Smith petitioned for A towne Lott by [ * * * ] 
John Roades The Court Granted him A back Lott nex[t] to WilUam 
Clarks Lott, the same Condition as to other[s]. 

William Rest petitioned for three hundred Acors of Cleare Land 
in this County, which the Court Granted order for. 

Ann Newcome petitioned that Whereas her form[er] Husband John 
Haggistor did sell unto Norton Clay[poole] A Certaine parcell of Land 
& plantation unto wh[ich] bargaine or sale she did never Condisend 
nor any way yeild her rite & title of the Aforesaid Land to any person 
or persons therefore she Craved the Courts order for her thirds in 
the said Land soe far as the La[nd] shall admitt in sutch case & to 
order the same to be set Apart that she may peaceably posses & 
Enjoy the same, which petition the Court thrue away. 

Richard Law petitioned that Whereas he was Charg[ed] in his 
Levys for James Heath, the sd James Heath being A freeman onely 
working with the petitione[r] upon certane Conditions the Court 
ordered the sd James Heath to pay his owne Levys. 

Joshua Barksteads Comition for the Corroners place of this County 
being Read he desired it might be record[ed]: — 

"William Penn Proprietary and Governor of the Prov- 
ince OF PenSILLVANIA & THE TERRITORYS THEREUNTO BE- 
LONGING; To Joshua Barksted Greeting:— Reposing Confi- 
dence in thy Sobriety & Integrity I doe Authorise & Apoynt thee 
Joshua Barksted to be Corroner of the County of Sussex to Inspect 
the bodies of those that come untimely to their deaths & Impanell 
Juries upon the same, & doe what to the ofice of A Corroner belongs 
& to receive the fees due for the same as by Law directed: hereby 
requiring all persons to give thee ye Respect due to thy office, Given 
at Phyladellphya ye 23d 9 ber 1683. 
[seale] "William Penn." 

Indenture of sale of one hundred thirty two Acors of Land Sould 
by Samwell Gray to Randolph Shard being read in open Court before 
the said Samwell & Randolph it was desired by the sd Randolph 
it might be Recorded; which is as followeth: — 

"This Indenture made the first day of 10 ber in ye year of oure 
Lord one thousand six hundred & Eighty three betwixt Samwell 
_ Gray of Lewis in the County of Sussex Planter of the one part & 
XRandolp [sic] Shard Chirurgeon of the other part wittnesseth that 
the said Samwell Gray for & in consideration of the great care trouble 
& service of the sd Randolph Shard to him the sd Samwell Gray & 
for & in consideration of the said Randolph Shard his Charge of physick 
& for divers other good considerations him the sd Samwell Gray 
Moving hath bargained Sould Alienated & confirmed one hundred 
thirty two Acors of Land lying in long love Creek in the County of 



COURT RECORDS. 115 

Sussex cS: knowne by the Name of Grays Inn from him & his Heires 
for ever to the sd Randolph Shard * * *. 

"Samwell G Gray [seale] 
his marke 

"Sealed & delivered in the presence of John Cartor, John White, 
Gerrardus Wessels, Samwell White Samwell Gray acknoledged this 
to be his act & deed." 

A Protest made by Benjamin Blagg Mr of the Ship Soc[iety] 

AGST the detainment OF A PaRCELL OF OYLE & WhALE BON[e] 

Sussex County belonging to the Province of Pennsillvania 

Whereas the Ship Society belonging to the Ifree society of traders 
of Pennsillvania is Expressly ordered & sent to [the] Roade within 
Cape James on purpose to take in & loade [A] parcell of oyle & Whale- 
bone belonging to & upon accoun[t of] the fEree society aforesaid, 
Benjamin Blagge being Mr of [the] said ship for this present voyage, 
have this day deman[ded] of John Hill the said oyle & Whalebone 
which should ha[ve] bene delivered to him by vertue of an order or 
Comition fr[om] the society aforesaid, for his receiving the same, the 
ship ly[ing] ready in the road aforesaid, for the convenient loading the 
sam[e] the Answer that is given me by the said John Hill is that part 
of the said oyle is converted by one Henry Bowman t[o] his owne use 
& the rest thereof is Attaiched by the said John Hill by law as allsoe 
the Whalebone for the societys use and Cannot have an Issue thereof 
in Court untill the 11th or l[2th] day of the next Month Called June 
flor which causes I Benjamin Blagg Mr of the Ship aforesaid doe here 
prote[st] against the detainment thereof & shall God willing proce[ed] 
on oure Intended voyage with oure said Ship Society According to 
order. This protest is made at the towne of Lewis in the County 
aforesaid this 3 day of ye 3 Month call[ed] May 1684 by me Benjamin 
Blagge in Wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand the Day & 
yeare before writte[n] with the seale of the County aforesaid; 
signed in the presence of us: ' Benjamin Blagge. . 

RacHELL R C ClaYPOOLB rthe County seal 

, , L ■ for bussex 

her marke 

Norton Claypoole Clerc: 

Vera Copia Test. Norton Claypoole. 

June 10th, 1684. 

Att A Court Held * * * at Lewis for the County of Sussex 
the tenth day of the fourth Month 1684. Comitioners present: John 
Roades, John Kipshaven, Herculus Shepard, AUexander Draper, 
Robert Bracy, Robert Hart. 

An Action of the Case. Luke Wattson Pit, The Estate of George 
Lacham in the hands of John Barker deft. The Pit being absent upon 
publick service at the Provinciall Councell the Court Referd the Cause 
to the next Court; with drawne by the Pits order the 6[th] Mo: in 
Court. 

[In a suit for title to "house & Towne Lott" — mention is made that \ 
r Thomas Hodgins marryed the rellix & Administratri[x] of the Estate -'^ 
of Halm Wiltbanck" * * *]: ["Thomas Hodgkings who marryed 
Jane the Widow and Administratrix of the Estate of Halm Wiltbanck]. 



116 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

February 12th, 13th, 1683. 

["Symon Pawhn being Chosen Cunstable" took his oath.] 
John King being Chosen Cunstable did promise ye same. 
The Indian Assawmak Harmatt a male Acknedged in open Court 
the sale of one thousand Acors of Land to Mr AUexander MoUeston 
which Land is on the South side of the Indian River. 

March, 1683-4. 

[A suit in which " Robt. Chfton Marying the Relli-x & Administratrix 
of Capt. Joh Avory" is deft.] [Her name is given as Sarah]. 

Joshua Barksteads Comition being read twas ordered to be recorded 
for him to be Corroner in this County. 

August 12th, 1684. 

[A suit in which mention is made that "John Daniell * * * 
Assighned over the said bill to Katherine Vines who now is the wife 
of the Pit," * * * Arthur Starr.] 

August 13th, 1684. 

Chosen for Peace Makers William Clark Jno. Roads & Jno. Hill. 

September 2d, 1684. 

Att the Orphans Court Held at Lewis in the County of Sussex by 
the Kings Authority & in the Proprietary & Governous [sic] Nane 
[sic] the 2 day of the 7th Month 1684. Comitioners present: Luke 
Wattson, John Roades, John Kipshaven, & Herculus Sheppard & 
AUexander Draper. The Inventories of the Estates belonging to the 
Orphans & other writings thereunto Appertaining being in the Reg- 
isters Office & the Register of this County viz the President being gon 
to Phyladellphya & not left oute the writings aforesaid, this Court 
Could not proceed to doe any business therein, therefore this Court 
is Adjourned to the first tuesday in the next first Month. 

[The above is followed by three items of the killing of wolves 
"entered by order of Court."] 

November 11th, 1684. 

John Barker is Chosen Surveyor of the hye ways in the roome of 
William Bradford. 

December 9th, 10th, 1684. 

Samwell Gray presents for not working upon the hye ways These 
persons following viz Will. Emmott John Brown Richard Gill John 
Williams John Wocon Robert Jnoson Harmon Cornells the delin- 
quents are ordered to worke betwene this & the next Court what 
they are behind in their Work otherwise to be fined 20 ff. a day for 
what they are behind. 

Robert Hart Surveyor of the hye ways presents for not workin 
upon the ways Luke Watson senior Henry Bowman Henry Smith 
Barnwell Jackson David Coursey Wm ifancy Wm Spencer junior 
Barthollmew Aplegate. 

Appraisers to be Chosen WiUiam Emmot John Symons & Samwell 
Gray Chosen to be Appraysors for one yeare [and took oath' of office]. 



COURT RECORDS. 117 

November 11th, 1684. 

John Barker is Chosen Surveyor of the bye ways in the roome of 
William Bradford. 

Thomas Bocent promised to performe the office of under Sherriff 
for one yeare * * * [and took oath]. 

Babptist Newcome agread with the Court to build ye Court house 
& prison as is expressed elce where for 10 thousand pounds of tobaco. 

February 10th, 1684. 

Arthur Starr & Henry Vbanck being Attested declared they both 
heard Robt. Johnsoii say that he had carryed away part of the Stocks 
& flung it downe the banck & Arthur Starr further declared that he 
head [sic] the sd Jnoson say that if he had his Ax there he would 
cut downe the Whippin post these words was spoken as they Affirme 
by the sd Johnson the latter end of Octobr or In Novembr last. 

March 10th, 1685. 

Andrew Deprey being Chosen Cunstable he was Attested to per- 
orme the office of a Cunstable this yeare next ensuing for the pre- 
cinct he Uveth In According to Law & the best of his knolledge. 

May 12th, 1685. 

Henry Stretcher verbally petitioned the Court that he might take 
In the pond and sum upland for A pasture for the use of his ordinary 
on which the Court Grants that he may fence in the sd pond & upland 
for seaven yeares to commense the next orphans Court tb be held 
the next 8th Month & Henry Stretcher promiseth to let any of the 
Inhabitants put in their Calves for 2/s ye summer that of the towne 

6 any Inhabitant of this County to put in the horse or.horsys at any 
time for 4d A Night Henry Stretcher allsoe promisetn that when the 

7 yeares is expired to deliver peaceable and quiet possession unless 
he shall Agrea for Longer time the Court allsoe Grants that if the sd 
pond and upland be to be let oute when this seaven yeares is expired 
that Henry Stretcher shall have the refusing of it, he is to pay yearely 
to the orphans Court held in every 8 th Month one Eare of Indian 
Come for A yearely rent to the Court for the sd Land. 

[The Court granted Arthur Starr "2 towne lotts more backward 
where he lives for A tanyard" * * * "for seaven yeares to begin 
the next 8th Month at the orphans Court he paying for a yearly 
rent one eare of Indian Corne to the orphans Court to be held 
every 8th month." * * * 

March 8th, 9th, 10th, 1687. 

SoUomon Jones and John Williams are Chosen ffence Vewers. 

Jerrimia Scott petitioned to be excused of ye Cunstables place he 
being Chosen by the Court his petition was not allowed and he was 
Attested to serve the office of A Cunstable for the yeare insuing or 
for soe long as he should live in the towne for ye towne precinct. 

Arthur Starr petitioned to be released of the Cunstables office and 
the Court Chose Jerimiah Scott before inserted to serve in his Roome. 

John Crew petitioned to be Excused of the Cunstables office & The 
Court Chose William Bradford Recited to serve. 

Bryant Roles petitioned to be excused of ye Cunstables place and 
the Court Chose and Appointed Antony Havorly to serve in his place 



118 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

for this yeare next ensuing the office of A Cunstable for that 
precinct. 

The Judgment of the Jury of Inquest upon the body of James 
CoUe late servant to Thomas Branscom being found dead was Read 
in Court and ordered to be Recorded in the Booke of Records * * *. 

May 3d, 1687. 

Thomas Wynns Comition to be one of ye Justices in the Roome of 
Thomas Langhorne was Read viz: * * *, 

[Order of "Councill" "that no undrest Deer skins be put on board 
any shipp Boate or Vessel! with intent to transport ye same oute of 
this province before they have bene publickly exposed to sale * * *. 

Grand Jury's presentments as foUoweth: — 

Wee of the Grand Jury doe present Nathaniell Sikes for selling of 
Ight [sic] bread according to Information of Albertus Jacobs and 
Phillip Russell. Richard Law fforeman. 

Wee of the Grand Jury present Babptist Newcom for Not Mending 
or Repairing the long bridge accordin to Information of Joshuah 
Barkstead. Richard Law fforeman. 

The Grand Jury presented the Court for Not Causing a Court house 
and prisson to be made. Richard Law fforeman. 

The Court orders Babptist Newcom to Sums in ye Inhabitants 
that have allready refused their Worke to mend the Long Bridg. 

John Vines Corroner Returned to this Court the Verdict of the 
Jury of Inquest upon the death of Elizabeth the wife of James Sikes 
viz * * * [she "dyed suddenly on or aboute the 14th of ffeb: 
Ano: 1686" paper dated "this Uth day of March Ano 1686"]. 

June, 1687. 

William Kanning petitioned that Whereas he gave security A 
twelve month since for his good behaviour Requests that his security 
may be released and their bonds delivered. The Court being informed 
that ye Sherriff commanded him to aid and assist to put Tho. Jones 
in the stocks and the petitioner Refused saying if it was to put ye Sher- 
riff in ye stocks he would help; Whereupon they would not grant 
his petition telling him he had as much reason to be bound to his 
good behaviour as fformerly therefore they would not grant it. 

|-* * * "The Court therefore order the said James Hardin to 
be Committed to the Sherriffs Custody untill he give security for his 
good behaviour" this was for the above offence]. 

"Ruith Bundick Thomas Jones Mother petitioned" * * * 

July 21st, 1687. 

The Comition from James Williams Deputy Collector Appointed 
by Patrick Mein Esqr to Norton Claypoole being read as ffoUoweth 
* * * [as Genl Deputy Collector]. 

[Norton Claypoole Attested to discharge of above Dutv 16th 5 
mo., 1687.] 

Norton Claypooles Comission for Deputy of ye Rolls * * * 
Given near Lewis the 23 4th Month 1687. 

Tho Lloyd Mr of ye Rolls. 



COURT RECORDS. 119 

Henry Bowmans Comission for ye Navall office * * * Given 
at Phyladellphia the Eighth day of the sixth Month 1687. 

Wm Markham Secretary. 
September 6th, 1687. 

Justice Roades was see sick that he was not able to sitt upon the 
bench to doe any buisness & there not being Justices enough to hold 
A Court withoute him the Court ordered Notice thereof to be given 
and the Court to be Adjourned to ye first twesday in ye Next Month 
which was accordingly done by proclamation. 

October 4th, 5th, 6th, 1687. 

The last will & testament of John Roades was delivered to ye Court 
sealed up & desired by them to be publiquely opened and Read 
which was accordingly done as allsoe Read but the Widdow Comfort 
Roades desired it might not be proved till Next Court * * * 
untill she had A Letter of Administration * * * [this was 
granted]. 

Johnathan Baily was summoned to this Court * * * [for] vio- 
lently by force of Arms Wickedly Maliciously & feloniously, cute of A 
sordid base Covetous desire, aboute the beginning of the last yeare 1686 
* * * Contemning & despising, thy Neighbours, fence Not onely the 
Kings Hye way, to thy owne use, which said Hye way hath bene Made 
Wome & Accustomed for Many years. Neither had thy Neighbours, any 
other roade or hye way to ye Commons Commonly called Marshes either 
to ffetch Hay Looke after their Catle, or other ocations; but allsoe the 
onely Known Antient place of A burying ground for the towne of 
Lewis &ct, Notwithstanding thou hast bene twice presented for the 
same. Thou hast continued the use thereof to thy private advantage 
and benefitt and hath boldly and presumptuously in defiance of all 
thy Neighbours, their Right and property placed the frame of A 
Windmill thereon, and allsoe hast Not onely confidently & Im- 
pudently, denyed and Refused thy Neighbours the use of ye sd ground 
to bury their dead forbiding them or any of them to come upon the 
said ground but didst Cruelly in A tyrannicall and Wicked Manner 
threaten & [sic] the presence & hearing of severall of the Kings Leig 
people, that thou wouldst cutt the legs off, from those persons that 
would come there to Make A grave which hath bene to the great 
dishonor of God, contempt of Authority & to the violating the 
good laws of oure Sovereign Lord the King & this present Govern- 
ment, and to the great Terror of the Kings Leige people the Abuse of 
all thy Neighbours. & the 111 Example of all others offending in the 
like Case; * * * 

Johnathan Baily being called to tryall & the petty Jury called for 
and aboute to be called over Mr. Wm. Clarke president being absent 
when the Grand Jury brought in ye sd Inditement but now being 
upon the bench told the Court there would be noe Need of A Jury for 
this buisness for to his Knowledge there was A petition delivered to 
the Councell aboute it, and the Councell had ordered Something in it, 
& how it should come ffrom the Councell to be tryed in this Court he 
did not know, Norton Claypoole Answered that presidt Clarke told 
him & ffrancis Cornwall yt the petition which presidt Loyd dehvered 
to ye Councell aboute the burying Ground &ct was shghted by- the 



120 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Councell for as much as it was not directed to them, for Indeed ye 
petition was directed onely to presidt Loyd when he was here hoping 
and believing that he would order wee should have the use of oure 
Antient burying ground as formerly and he told us when wee deliv- 
ered ye petition that if he stayed long enough viz 3 or 4 days longer 
he would call A Court and have it done before he went if not ye law 
was open to us & told us how to proceed Presidt Clarke told the Court 
if they thought fitt to goe on with it he would goe off the bench ye 
Jury being called over before the inditement was Read presidt Clark 
sent for Justice Wynn off the bench and there being but three Justices 
left proceedings was stopt whilest Justice Wynne came againe then 
came Johnathan Baily with Justice Wynn & promised before the 
Court that he would consent that one Acor of Land to be laid oute 
in the same place where ye burying ground hath bene used, which 
gave some sat tisf action to ye Court and Country; and as for the Hye 
way The Court ordered that the same should be as wyde before ye 
said Johnathans Land as before other peoples howses in the towne 
Whereupon further proceedings was stopped Justice Wynn signed 
the said order in the dockett booke. 

The Grand Jury brought in further presentments as viz, * * * 
We doe Request the Court forthwith to order A Court house & A 
prison to be provided according to Law that the Inhabitants may 
not be sufferers the 4th 8 mo: 87. 

^, John Bellamy fforeman. 

The Court upon the Examination of ye presentments ordered that 
Babptist Newcome should be sumoned to the next Court to Answer 
the suite of ye Court & declaration to be drawne. [I believe this has 
reference to the building of the Court housej 

[Norton Claypoole and others "petitioned agst ye Estate of Jno 
Pearce deceased."] 

Wm. Emmott Requested that he might have leave to sell A tract 
of Land by outcrye in open Court by Inch of Candle which the Court 
Granted * * *. 

Norton Claypoole Deputy Register for Probat of Wills and granting 
letters of Administration &ct shewed to the Court the Inventory of ye 
Estate of Henry Gitto delivered to him from Henry Smith Admin- 
istrator of ye sd Estate * * * 

The first day of the 9th Month 1678 [sic]. 

The last 8th Month Court being Adjourned to this day & Now 
there not being Justices enough in health to hold A Court Procclama- 
tion was made and Notice given publiquly that there not being A 
suffitent Number of Justices to hold a Court the buisness thereof is 
defered to the first twesday in the next Month. 

December, 1687. 

Henry Bowman as Atturney & in the behalfe of Thomas Phillips 
of Newyorke Merct petitioned the Court for an order agast ffrancis 
Cornwall Hye Sherriff for the contents of an Execution served on the 
body of Henry Stretcher for fifty od pounds &ct for that he the sd 
ffrancis Cornwall Hye Sherriff hath suffered the said Henry Stretcher 
to have his liberty ever since he was taken in Execution withoute any 



COURT RECORDS. 121 

sattisfaction of debt or Costs &ct. ffrancis Cornwall Hye Sherriff 
rendred the prissoner in Court and said that he had bene his prissoner 
ever since and he had noe better prisson to keep him in The Court 
having formerly made an order upon the like ocation the 4th .Month 
1681 upon A petition of Halm Wiltbanck deceased upon the like case 
viz that the Sherriff shall confine the said prissoner to the house and 
yards where the said Sherrifi doe or shall live untill the said prissoner 
shall be legally discharged by the Pit and that in the meane time the 
Pit shall allow the prissoner two shillings and six pence A week for his 
Maintenance and the like order the Court doe make for all other per- 
sons that shall be upon Execution for debt untill there can be a prisson 
built and provided for that purpose. This Court therefore order that 
said recited order be renewed & Confirmed and if the Sherriff or any 
Sherrifi hereafter untill the prisson be built and finished shall suffer 
any prissoner (that is under Execution for debt) to goe further then 
his fenced land Where his dwelling house is then he shall or may be 
liable to be sued for an Escape. President Clarke signed this order 
on the petition. 

John Vines Verbally petitioned the Court for ffees dew to him as 
Crowner from the Estate of James Sykes deceased amounting to 2-13-6 

* * * ye Heir viz Nathll Sykes * * *^ 

Phillip Russell petitioned agst the Estate of John Pearce deceased 

* * * 

The last will and testament of John Roades dated the 17 th day of 
7ber last past was proved * * * 

Knights Howard Sonn & Heir to Thomas Howard deceased * * *. 
The Nuncative or Verball Will of James Sykes late of this County 
deceased being his last will and testament was proved by the Attesta- 
tions of Allexander Draper and Thomas Price one of ye Justices. 

It is Agread by this Court that whosoever subscribes any logs to be 
gotten for the use of the prison and Court house shall bring ye said 
logs to the place in the towne where it is to be built in forty days after 
the date hereof or elce forfeit double the Vallue of the said logs there 
is to be as followeth: 54 logs at 4/8 ps 15 foote long 1 foote over 8 
Inch thick, 16 ditto at 6/8 23 foote 1 over & 8 Inch thick squard 
2 sides ; every person that undertakes to get any is to take 3 short to 
one long. 

I doe undertake to get 20 logs, Wm Clarke; 

and I doe undertake for 04 logs, Tho; Wynne; 

I doe undertake 20 logs, Henry Stretcher; 

wee doe undertake six short & two long, ffrancis Cornwall, 

Morrice Edwards; 
ffor my selfe 8c Justice Gray 3 long and 15 short, Henry Molle- 

stone and Sam well Gray; 
I Babptist Newcomb doe Ingage my selfe to find Raff tors and 
Clabords for A prison and Cover the sd prison the Court 
finding Nails, Bapt: Newcomb. 

Whereas severall persons have complained to this Court they know 
not where to Cutt their firewood the Court therefore orders that the 
towne Land shall be forthwith laid oute. 

Margarett and Thomas ffisher Administrators of ye Estate of John 
ffisher dec'd * * *, 



122 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

February 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th. 1687. 

The Justices New Commission was Read, viz * * * [signed] 
Tho: Uoyd president. 

Then was Read this following obligation for the New Justices to 
signe Instead of an oath viz * * *, 

The Inditement Agst Phillip Russell for suffering persons to play 
at Cards in his house, was Read to which he pleaded guilty Confessing 
the same saying it was the first time and much agst his will but the 
persons was soe Resolute he could not perswade them against it and 
he the said Phillip promised never to suffer the like againe the Court 
fined him 5/8. 

The Inditement Agst Henry Strecher for playing at Cards was Read, 
Charles Pickering being allowed his Attumey said he tQUSt submitt 
to the Court the Court fined him 5/8. 

March 1st, 1688. 

[Case in which "Charles Pickering Executor of ye last Will & 
testamt of Phillip ThLehamaine" is deft.] 

May, 1688. 

Philhp Russell was the last Court Indicted for selling beer at More 
then the laws of this Government allow; Referd. 

The last Will and Testament of Major Wm. Spencer was proved 
by the Attestations of the Wittnesseg viz; Art Jnoson Vankirk Robt 
Twilly, and William Emmatt. 

[Thomas Ashton, who seems to be living at "Lewis," is alluded to 
as "late of New Yorke Soapeboyler. "] 

Susanna Bedwell & Thomas Bedwell Administrators of the Estate 
of Robt Bedwell deceased * * *. 

May 2d, 1688. 

Norton Claypoole in open Court Delivered three Matchcoats to 
Christian the Indian Sacamacko for the Indian Right and title of one 
thousand Acors of Land scittuate in Kent County on this side Dover 
Rivor aboute three miles from the place that Dover towne is Intended 
to be built and he the said Christian the Indian did then Acknowledge 
to have sold given and Granted the Indian Right title and Interest 
of the sd land being one thousand Acors according to the survey and 
pattent thereof from him his Heirs &c promising to defend the said 
Norton Claypoole from the lawfuU claim of any other Indian Claiming 
any Right title or Interest of or to any part of the said land in Wittness 
Where of he the said Christian have hereunto set his hand and seale 
the day and yeare first above Written. 

the marke X of Christian ye Indian [seale] 
Sealed and delivered In the presence of us: 

Wm. Clark, 

Tho. Wynne, 

Henry Moleston. 

Presidt William Clark Acknowledged the sale of the land mentioned 
in a Conveyance dated 26th day of the first month 1685 to Johnathan 
Baily according to the Contents of the said Conveyance save onely the 
burying Ground and King's hye way to be Excepted as Atturney to 
John Vines the which Conveyance the sd presidt delivered in open Court. 



COURT RECORDS. 123 

June Sth, 6th, 7th, 8th, 1688. 

Henry Stretcher was the last first Mo. Court Indicted by the Grand 
Jury for selling of Beer at More then the law directs & allows Luke 
Watson John Bellamy and Thomas Bessant was Attested & Tho. 
ffisher one of ye Jury Instead of AW Draper the Petty Jury went oute 
upon this Cause & the other below both together and brought in their 
verdict Wee of ye Jury find these Indictments not to be according to 
law testis Jacob Warring fform. 

PhilHp Russell was the last first Mo Court Indicted for selling of 
beer at Jlore then the law directs or allows; tried with the Cause above 
both together and 'the above Verdict Relates to this. 

John Browne Shipcarpenter Acknowledges sale of two towne lots 
with ye houses and fences thereon * * *. 

Charles Sanders and Wm Rodeney ye evidences to the last Will and 
Testament of Major William Dyre deceased proved the same to be 
his Act and deed and allsoe tested yt the sd Major Wm Dyre Ac- 
knowledged the same to be his last Will and Testament. 

Upon the Request of Comfort Roades Widdow Administratrix of 
the Estate of John Roades that ye lands and provissions may be 
omitted in ye Inventory The Judgmt [sic] Court is that Whereas 
there is Estate suffitient to sattisfye all debts & demands besides 
they order that the lands and provissions for the use of the family 
shall be left oute and omitted in the Inventory. 

Upon ye 16th Day of the Sixth Month 16S8, Rachel Claypoole 
Widdow Haveing Desired Luke Watson Senr. and Thomas Oldman 
To bee Appraisers of ye Goods and Chattells Now in her posses- 
sion, being ye Goods & Chattells of her Late Husband Norton 
Claypoole (Deceased) The Common Appraisers not being at hand 
Justice Thomas Wynne being present attested ye abovesaid Parties 
To Doe Justice To ye best of their knowledge according to Law in ye 
Premisses. 

Testes Tho Wynne 

Rachel Claypoole (Widdow) being Attested to Bring in a True 
acot of ye Estate Goods and Chattells of Norton Claypoole her hus- 
band Deceased did Give in an Inventorie of ye same Bearing Date as 
abovesaid To ye best of her knowledge As will appear by ye Said 
Inventorie. 

Reserving to her Selfe One Bed and furniture Togather with 
waireing apparell and ye Plantacon She lives on. 

Test Tho. Wynne 

Nehemiah ffield 

June 6, 1694. [Court of Common Pleas.] 

Robert Bracee Senr acknowledged unto his Son Robert Two hun- 
dred acres of land being Part of The Tract of Land hee now lives upon, 
according To Conveyance herewith Also Desired The Court would 
Take notice That if hee Should happen To Die without Will, That 
hee Bequeaths unto his Said Son Robert his Heirs & Assigns The 
other four hundred acres which hee Calls and Reckons To bee his 
home Plantatcon and Two hundred acres more which belongs To ye 
Said Tract which is in all 800 Acres, hee also Gives and bequeaths 



124 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX , COUNTY. 

unto his Said Son his Heirs and Assigns if the law Can Recover it 
hee having made ye Said 200 Acres over in Cot. to ye Children Mary 
and Elisabeth. his 

RoBT. R B Bracee 
mark 

In an Aeon of Defamacon. Luke Watson Senr Pit, Henry Bow- 
man deft. The Suit fifell by ye Deft Death. 

In an aeon of ye Case. Mongo Crafiord & Wm Orr in Comp 
Merchtts Pit, Thomas Tillton Deft; withdrawn By ye Pit. 

Albertus Jacobs Coronr made Retume of ye .Jurie of Inquest 
Verdict upon ye Death of Edward Benbrick found dead ye 29th day 
of May 1694 which was Thatt hee the Said Benbrick was accidentally 
Prowned By Riding Over ye Broad Kill Henry Strecther fforeman. 
True Returne Albertus Jacobs, Coronor. 

The Last Will and Testamt of Cesar Godwin Deceesed was Putt 
into Court by ye Widow and was There Read and Proved. 

September 4th, 1694. 

Nehemiah ffield Published his Deputacon for Dpty of ye Rolls 
Clarke of the Provincial and Probate of Wills and was Swome in 
Open Court. The Oath administred by Capt Thomas Penaberton. 

The Court appoint Woodman Stokely Overseer of ye Highwayes 
for ye County Bounds on ye South Side the Indian River, and Morris 
Edwards for Rehoboth hundred Henry Moleston for Cedar Creek 
Hundred And William Piles for ye Towne Hundred all ye Inhabitants 
belonging to Rehoboth Hundred between Bundicks Bridge and Pot 
hooks Creek are ordered by ye Court To assiste Woodman [sic] Morris 
Edwards Ordered by ye Court That The Widow ffisher Richard Law 
and Timothy Dowgan be hereafter Deemed 4 Inhabitants of the 
Towne Hundred and their Plantacons within the Precincts of the 
Same. 

Tlie Court Orders Thatt warrants shall be Issued out unto all ye 
Constables of Each Respective hundred in this County To Bringe 
in at December Court Next an Exact list of all the Titheables within 
the Same, as also by Taking from ye said Titheables own mouths what 
Quantity of Lands they Hold. 

September Sth, 1694. 

Whereas There hath been some Differences and Disputes about 
ye Bounds of the Town of Lewis It is ordered by the Court To pre- 
vent farther such like That ye Sheriff and the Surveyor with Sutable 
assistance Doe forthwith Run out ye Side line That Runs along by ye 
Land of Abraham and Isaac Wiltbanck And ye Land of John Williams, 
as also ye other Side line That Runs along by ye Land of William 
Dyre. 

[* * * Richd Paynter Junior in the Right of his Wife Jane 
Executrix of William Swetnam Decesd * * *] [The name is 
spelled also Swetman.] * 

December 4th, Sth, 1694. 

Barnes Garrett and Anthony Haverley being sent for To Charles 
Spooner upon his Death Bed, hee ye Said Spooner Did Desire them 
To take notice of and To Take Care That his Wife Should have Enjoy 



COURT RECORDS. 125 

and possess all his Estate Goods and Chatties both Real and per- 
sonall to her own proper use and Disposall as She sees meet * * *_ 

Susanna Gray Produced in Court ye Last Will and Testament of 
Samuel Gray her late Husband Deceesed and Proved the Same by 
Saml Preston and Michael Chambers 2 Evidences to ye Same Will. 

Robt Bracee appeared in Court and there produced an Indenture 
wherein hee had Bound his Daughter Elisabeth Bracee unto Richard 
Paynter Junr untill She Arrive to ye age of Seventeen Years being 
now according to ye tenure of the Indenture Six Years of Age which 
Indenture Bears Date ye 30th Day of November 1694 * * * 

The Clark Produed [sic] in Court a List of Laws which the Secretary 
had Sent Down which were Openly Read Over * * *_ 

The Said Grand Jury also Gave John Hill Six Pounds fior ye Grand 
Juries Years Accomodacon And the Court house. And unto Capt. 
Watson Capt. Pemberton and Roger Corbett Six Pounds a peice for 
their this Years Service in Assembly. 

March 6th, 7th, 1694. 

The Court Gives liberty for a Dictche to bee Cutt through the most 
Con-\'enient Place Of the Towne of Lewis into the Creek for thee Con- 
veniency of Drayning of the Sevanna On ye back part Next the Second 
Street Lotts: And Orders That ye Wacant Ground That lies between 
the Lott of Nehemiah f&eld And the four Acre Lott of Capt Pemberton 
Adjoyning upon Richard Holloway bee Reserved for a Markett Place, 
And the Vacant Peice of Land Next Adjoyning on the South West 
Side of John Miers his Lott to ye Block house Pond And between 
the Block house feeld and that, To bee used as a Common burying 
place. 

After all which the Court Caused a Letter to bee written to the 
Justices in Mary Land Relating to Some Difference between the Two 
Governments. And Ordered the Clerk to Recorde the said Letter 
a true Copy whereof is on the other side * * * 

June 4th, 1695. 

Robert Bracee Appeared in Court and Desired that hee might bee 
allowed and Ordered Letters of Administracon upon the Estate of 
his ffather Robert Bracee Sener: Deceesed upon a Will made in Open 
Court 6th day of June 1694 Roger Corbett Appeared for ye Widow 
of ye said Deceesed And produced a former Will made in ye Year 
1688 under ye hand and Seal of ye Deceesed, And Pleaded that th"e 
Late Will was Nuncupative and the other a written will and So 
not of equal force & validitey * * * Ordered To bee Continued 
to the Next Court * * * 

At a Meating of the Justices On the 15th Day of July Ano Domini 
1695. Justices present: William Clark, Capt Luke Watson, Capt. 
Thomas Pemberton, John Stokely, Thomas Oldman, Joseph Booth; 
An Order and Warrant from the Governor and Councill was Pro- 
duced and Read Relateing to a Suspicion of A Designe of Our enemies 
the ffrench To Attache thes Or Some lOther Our Neighbouring Plan- 
tacons, wherein for safe Guard It is ordered That Two men Shall be 
Hired to Watche upon the Cape every day from fi\'e in the morning 
untill Seven att Night Untill ye first day of October next Ensueing, 
In Obediance whereinto The Justices Considering of Persons fitting 



126 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

for ye said watche Trust Did Agree and Aprove of Anthony Parssly 
and John Putteet therein And Accordingly Did agree with them att. 

September 3d, 4th, 169S. 

Cornelius Wiltbanck By Peticon Acquaints The Court hee hath 
a Designe To Build a Water Mill In this County On that Branch Or 
Creek On the Broad Kill Called Mill Creek if ye Court Will Grant 
him the Same and Land which is Customary Adjoyning to the Same 
The Court Grant him the Said Streame Provided he Builde the Said 
Mill thereon within fifteen months from hence forward and do Attend 
and Minde the Same, And Doe Grinde the Graine well And in due 
Course as itt Comes to Mill without Respect to Persons att ye Eighth 
part Toll ffor wheat and Sixth flor Indian Come. 

December 3d, 1695. 

The Court being Opened the Grand Jury were Called over * * * 
who haveing Recei\-ed their Charge went out of Court And After 
some time Came in With a Paper Containing as foUoweth : The Grand 
Jury Request of the WorshippfuU Court That the Road from Town to 
the Indian River May bee Cleared and the Bridges Repaired And 
that they would bee Pleased to Appoint An Overseer for that Part 
of the County John Miers {foreman which the Court Granted And 
Appointed Robert Barton Overseer in the same. 

January 7th, 8th, 9th, 1695. 

The Last Will and Testament of Skidmore Was Published and 
Read and Richard Williams peticioned The Court for thee precedency 
of Administracon either on the Said Will Or otherwise as the Said 
Will may bee Approved The Court Aprove not of the Will And 
Appoint ye Petitioner To Administer upon the said Estate of ye de- 
ceesed as intestate And keep the deceesed Childe, hee assuming to- 
Give Security To pay ye Debts As for ye assetts And the plantacon 
to be Recorded for ye said Boy whom hee promises to keep & men- 
tain gratis for nothing * * *. 

William Clark Peticoned ye Court Thatt Letters of Administracon 
might bee Granted him upon ye Estate of Stephen Sargent deceed 
in Thatt ye said Sargent att ye time of his Death Stood Indebted 
unto his Majtie and the Petitionr in ye Sum of £10: And upwards for 
ye Custom of Tobaccoe * * * Butt ye Court thought fitt To 
Continue the said Peticon unto ye next Court. [The petition was 
granted at the Court Mar. 4, 1695.] 

March 4th, 1695. 

* * * Return of ye Jury of Inquest upon the body of 
William Emmatt * * *. 

Jonathan Bayly Peticoned ye Court ffor Part of ye Branch for- 
merly Called Bundicks Branch To Build A Water mill on, which the 
Court Granted So far as Itt lay in their Power, But with these Con- 
dicons * * * [as in petition of Cornelius \A'iltbanck on a pre- 
vious page]. 

Whereas Daniel Hilliard Deceesed Did Dye Intestate * * * 
The Court Grante the said William Clarke ye priority of Adminis- 
tracon, And Order the Registr To grant him Letters thereof accor- 
dingly * * *_ 



COURT RECORDS. 127 

November 6th, 1702. 

Came Mary Goit Spinstr and the Will of Peter Goit late of this 
County Merchtt Deceesed Bearing Date the Tenth Day of July 1695 
being read * * *. 

William fifatcher Appeared in Court and Produced An Accott Agst 
James Walker Adminr of Henry Allen Deceesed fEor ffunerall Charges 

tfcC •I' *i* -1^ 

Thomas May Guardian Appointed of Richard WilHams — By the 
Last Will and Testamt of Richard WilHams His gather Deceased, 
Appeared in Court And Produced the Said Will which was Read 

February 2d, 1702. 

Jonathan Starges and Honor his Wife late Widow of Jno. Kips- 
haven Senr. Deceased * * *. 

Deborah Butler By Peticon Prayed the Court that Shee might bee 
allowed Satisfacon for the Trouble and Buriall of James Laytree Dec'd 

May 4th, 1703. 

Thomas Grove Appeared in Court And Produced An Accott of 
A Parcell of Debts that James Mathews Gave him on his Death bed 
the Sixth Day of ffebruary last * * *. 

May Sth, 1703. 

[Mention made that Martha Johnson, wife of Adam, was daughter 
of John Kipshaven, Senr.] 

[Mention that Comfort Burges, wife of Ralph Burges, was dau. of 
Wm. Piles, dec'd.] 

May 6th, 1703. 

* * * Came Adam Johnson And Martha His Wife And Ex- 
hibitt their Bill Agst John Hill Samuel Preston and Jacob KoUuck 
Execrs of the Last Will and Testament of John Kipshaven Deceased, 
which Bill follows in these words * * * Your Orator and Oratrix 
Adam Johnson of the County of Sussex Yeoman And Martha his Wife 
That Whereas John Kipshaven late of the Said County Yeoman yor 
Oratrix Marthas ffather, in his lifetime was possessed of and intituled 
to. As well a very Considerable Real Estate in Lands and Houses, As 
of and in Divers Goods and Chattells householdstuff Plate Ready 
money Outstanding Debts Negroes Cattle and other Stock Amounting 
to the Value of One Thousand Pounds or upwards and being so Pos- 
sessed And Interested Did Constitute and make his Last Will and 
Testament in Writing bearing Date the 14th Day of Janr: 1700, And 
in And by the Said Last Will amongst other things therein contained 
Did Give and Devise unto Yor Oratrx Martha The Moyety and halfe 
Part of his Lands in the County of Sussex During her life. And Did 
further Give and bequeath unto Yor Oratrix Martha the subb Moyety 
and halfe Part of His ^sonall Estate Excepting A very few incon- 
siderable Legacies * * * John Kipshaven Soon after Departed 
this life * * * (the Said Testatr Httle or no Debts to Pay) 
* * * [the Executors have refused to divide the Real Estate and 
give possession to Adam and Martha Johnson or to Deliver the Moyety 



128 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

of the Personal in Specie, and by Appraisement have undervalued 
the said estate perhaps one "half. They] pretend that the Testatr 
Was much Indebted at his Death, And that A Third of his Estate be- 
longed to , Honour Kipshaven, The Widow of the said John Kips- 
haven, the it is notoriously known, The Said Honr Eloped from her 
Husband And run him much in Debt wherever She could Obtaine 
Creditt, And Refused to live with him long before his Death * * * 
They have Suffered by Connivance the Said Widow to Sue them At 
Law for her thirds * * * [Jn the defence the Executors say] 
That the Said Kipshaven after hee had by his Will Given to his Grand 
children John and Albert Jacobs (Sons of Albertus Jacobs by His 
Daughtr the Said Pit Martha) The One Moyety and halfe Part of all 
his Estate both reall and t[f)jSonall Lands Goods and Chattells what- 
soever within The Province of Pennsilvania & Counties Annexed hee 
the Said Testatr Gave unto his Daughtr the Said Pit Martha the other 
Moyety & halfe Part of his Lands in the County of Sussex dureing 
her life, But with reserve of what the Testatr by his Said Will Dis- 
posed And Ordered to bee Paid And Delivered out of both Moyeties 
* * * And the Said Defts, further Say That the Pits have had 
near, if not all their Moyety or halfe Part of the Testatrs ^sonall 
Estate * * * [{;ije widow recovered her thirds] by Judgmt of 
Sussex County Court After A Vigorous Defence made by these Defts 
or of Some of them Against her in that behalf e * * *. 

May 7th, 1703. 

[Accounts produced showing the Pits had rec'd £15 6s 4>^d over 
their share, which was £100 15s 1 '^d. This Adam Johnson] Assumed 
in Open Court to Refunde and Pay Back to the sd Exectrs * * * 
they with Draw their Said Chancery Suit * * *_ 

May 2d, 1704. 

* * * And the Said Grand Jury Came into Court with A Paper 
in Writeing in these Words following — May ye 3rd, 1704: The 
Grand Jury Complains that the County Wants A Prison house And 
that Moneys hath been Given by Two Severall Grand Juries to the 
Value of ffourtey Pounds for that use Wee Desire to know why the 
worke is not done or An Accott of the Said Money's. In Answer 
whereof The Court told them, Robert Cade fioreman. That the ffirst 
Twenty Pounds was Disposed to A very necessary use in Buildeing 
of Bridges in the Queens Road, which were so much wanted that 
People Could not Pass to and froe, without great Danger, — And the 
Last Twenty Pounds was forgotten to bee Assessed in ye Publick 
Charge, when the Last Rate was made, and Leavie SettledJjVizt in 
ffebr. Court 1 702 — But Should bee Remembred at the Setthng of the 
Next Leavies. 

* * * By order of the Court The Queens Road from the Town 
to Rehobah in Lett and the Plantacons on the Right and Left hand 
of itt. Extending As far As Orrs Mill (included) bee Added to ye Town 
hundred. 

November 8th, 1704. 

Came into Court By William ffarmer The Last Will and Testamt 
of the Widow Jane Potter And Was Read * * * [Executor 
named Richd Dobson who] absolutely Renounceth his Right of Ex- 



COURT RECORDS. 129 

ecutorship * * * [and Administracon bee Granted unto William 
flfarmer As Guardian of the Minor, Abraham Potter onely Son of the 
said Dec'd. * * *]. 

August 1st, 1704. 

[Mention made that Jane, wife of Samuel Knowles, was formerly 
wife of Thomas Besent, dec'd.] 

John Ruling Merchtt By His Peticon Sett forth. That Whereas 
hee hath A house And Lott in the Town of Lewis, next Adjoyning to 
the Common Letts of The Said Town, which Lotts now lies Desolate 
and without fence. Therefore hee being willing to promote the benefitt 
of the Said Town Prays liberty from the Court To fence in ye Said 
Lotts with his Own, which will be a Conveniency to ye Town and 
Security of the Grave Yarde. And upon such Grant hee will forth- 
with fence in the Same, And Pay Such Acknowledgmt As may 
Secure the Rights of the Said Lottg As they were from ye first Con- 
cession * * *. The Court Grants unto the Said John Huling His 
Heirs and Assigns * * *. And as to ye fencing in the burying 
Ground hee hath liberty to Doe it, Provided hee render up the Same 
when ever the' Court Shall See fitt to Comande it from him * * * 

John Johnson ffree Nigroe Aged Eighty Years And Poor, and Past 
His labour * * * prayes the Court To Take him into the Publick 
Charity of the County — [Richard Laws agreed with the Court to 
Maintaine the Said John Johnson his lifetime — At ye Rate of Seaven 
Pounds fifteen Shillings ^r year to bee Paid out of the Publick]. 

May 9th, 1706. 

Sarah Watson late Widow & Execx of Capt Luke Watson Deced 
and former Widow And Adminx of Richard Paynter Senr Taylor 
Deced (Intestate) being Sumoned to this Court at the Complaint of 
her Son Richard Paynter * * * [mention made of his Eldest 
brother John]. 

William Mason and Margaret his Wife Appeared in Court And 
Produced An Accott of ffunerall Charges of Her late Husband James 
Clark Deed. * * * 

January 7th, 1706. 

Whereas the Grand Jury have found and brought into Court That 
it is absolutely Necessary for bridges to be made Over the Two Runs 
of Cedar Creek And Whereas the Law Impowers the Justices in Court 
sitting to hire Workmen To make build and Compleat the same — 
Mathew Parker appeared in Court and undertooke the Sd Work and 
That he would forthwith Goe about the same. And build Compleate 
& finish the Sd bridges. Substantially & Well and Sufficiently Sup- 
ported in the middle the Dementions of Which Sd Two bridges is to 
be Governed by the Direction of ye Law in That Case. Whereupon, 
it was bargained and Agreed by the Justices in Open Court, And the 
Sd Mathew Parker That he ye sd Mathew Should have in Consideracon 
of Building Compleating and finishing The Sd Two bridges in manner 
Aforesd The Sum of ffourteen Pounds to be Raised and Paid him out 
of this Years Leavy List, 

[In a Suit — "Henry Stretcher, Aged Sixty Seven Years or there- 
abouts being Deposed" said that a certain 20 acres of land in question 



130 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

■was sold to "Peter Winster of the same Place & County .Hattmaker, 
Who there Lived Some Time and Dyed, And Lyeth buried, att the 
Antient burying Place of the same Lewis" * * *]. 

[Another witness testifies to successive owners of the above prop- 
erty: "As from Johannis Winster, Son and Heir of Peter Winster 
Hatter Deced To Morris Edwards And from ye Sd Morris to Doctr 
Thomas Wynne, And from ye Sd Thomas Wynne, After the Death 
of him & Elizabeth his Wife To ye Sd Pit." * * *]. 

Rice Wolfe Peticoned the Court That Whereas he hath Inter- 
married with Mary the Daughter of ffrancis Cornwell (Intestate) 
Deced That he may be Ordered his Proportionable Part of the Sd 
Estate, both Reall and ^, sonal According as the Law Directs * * * 
[Referred to Orphans Court]. 

February 4th, 1706. 

The Court Nominated and Appointed fence Viewers (Vizt) * * *. 

Luke Shields by his Peticon in Open Court Read Setts forth That 
he have Served in the Station of a Drumer Sundry Courts Past in 
beating of the Drum, to Call People to Give Their Attendance at 
Sd Courts And is in hopes. That the Court and Gfand Jury, will 
Allow his Sd Service therein, both Past and to Come Some Com- 
pensacon or Reward — Whereupon the Sd Peticon Was Given 
out to ye Grand Jury, Who Returned it back into Court (rejected). 
However, it was Considered, By the Court That he Continue as 
Drumer therein And That at the Settlemt of the Next Years Leavy 
Lists, They Will Indeavoure, Hee Shall Have Some Sattisfaction 
For his Pains. 

Whereas It was Considered by the Court That Rideing of Horse 
Races in the Town of Lewis, Dureing the time of the Courts Sitting 
was Very Prejudicall and A Great Hindrance to the Dispatche of busi- 
ness Depending on the Same by Peoples Neglect of Attendance in 
Court; Wherefore it was Considered and Ordered By The Sd Court 
That No Vsons Presume to Ride a Race or Races, Or Strain A horse 
or Horses, within the Town of Lewis, Dureing the Courts Sitting, under 
the Imediate forfeiture of ffive Shillings, To be Paid by the Rider or 
Riders, Each of Them for Every Such Offence. 

John Futcher And Robert Clifton, Was Sent for, into Court' by The 
Order of the Justices, To Thomas Smith Constable, them & Each of 
Them, To Answer for their Contempts, In Rideing of a Race in the 
Town of Lewis Dureing the Courts Sitting, Notwithstanding a 
Rule or Order of Court Made to the Contrary under the Penalty of 
ffive Shillings ^r man for Each Such Race, To be Paid by the Riders 
Thereof — Whereupon the Sd Constable Returns into Court and Re- 
ports That Hee mett with Oposicon in the Discharge of his Office 
therein. By Mr. Luke Watson & Justice Jonathan Bailj^ who Com- 
anded ye Constable to Produce to him the Warrant that hee had for 
the Apprehension of the Sd Offendrs ffurther urging that the Court 
had no Power to Make Laws, And That as he was a Justice of the 
Peace, as well as they, he Expected the Examinacon of the Sd Matter, 
And Commanded the Constable to bring the Sd Riders, before him, 
Which ye Constable Did so, — And The Sd Justice Baily Cleared ye 
Sd Offendrs from the Sd Constable, Whereupon the Court Checked 
ye sd Constable for his Neglect and Timerousness in the Execucon 



COURT RECORDS. 131 

of his Office, And Comanded him to Goe and fetch the Sd Robert, and 
John into Court, And To Comand Assistance in the Same — And 
Thereupon the Sd Justice Baily and Luke Watson Came into Court 
Togather with the Constable and the Two Offendrs, And The Said 
Mr. Baily Confessed he had Cleared them So That they would not, 
Nor Should not Pay their fines, And That he ye sd Baily Knew as much 
Law as any of the Court Wherefore the Court Considering the Great 
Contempt of their Authority Comanded The Clk fforthwith to Write 
A Mittimus to the Sher. To Take the Sd Robert Clifton and John 
fEutcher into his Close Custody And, So Keep Them untill they had 
Payed their Sd outmost ffines and, all Incidentall Charges and fiees, 
by means of the Sd Contempt. John ffutcher Also Some time After 
n Open Court being Attested, Declared, That the Aforesd Mr. Watson 
and One Bonwell, the Owner of the Horse that Run, And that the 
Deponant Rid, — That the Sd Watson, And Bonwell Promised faith- 
fully to Indemnifie him for his fine. And all Damages Whatsoever 
That Should Arise thereby And That the Sd Mr. Watson Gave him 
Two Bitts, for Rideing the Sd horse and Race. 

[Luke Watson gives land to his brothers John Watson and Samuel.] 
[Esther Parry Widow gives land to her son John Smith and to her 
Son in Law Darby Collins.] 

[William ffisher gives land to son John Fisher.] 

March 4th, 1706. 

John West & Thomas West, Joint Execrs of the Last Will and Tes- 
tamt of their fiather George West Deced Came into Court And Makeing 
themselves Debtr by Inventary and Appraismt in the Sum of Ninety 
ffour Pounds fiourteen Shillings & two pence, Produced therewth 
an Accott of fEunerall Charges Debts and Legacies paid And other 
Lawfull Disbursmts Amounting in & to ye Sum of Sixty ffour Pounds 
Nineteen Shillings & one Peny, And prays of ye Court An Allowance 
of ye same * * *. 

John Hagister Execr of the Last Will and Testamt of his Mother 
Anne Williams Deced Came into Court * * *. 

Thomas Bowman Came into Court And by his Peticon in the be- 
halfe of himselfe & brothers Sett fforth That Whereas William Clark 
in his Life time had Obtained Lettrs of Administracon upon the Sd 
Peticoner's fiather Henry Bowman Senr Deed And now the Sd William 
Clark is also Dead * * *. 

The Widow Dunavan, and the Widow Rachael Webster, both of 
MusmilHan Creek in this County * * * [petitioned and had their 
Levies remitted, owing to their Great Poverty and Charge of Children.] 
The Like was Granted to the Widow Mary Depray upon her ^ sonall 
Applicacon, Submission, and Supplycacon in open Court, And ye 
Sheriff Ordered to Cease to Demand or Receive her Levy for the 
Year Aforesd. 

Richard Hinman, in the Right of Mary his Wife Administ of the 
Estate of Hercules Shepheard Deced Came into Court * * *. 

Frances Prittyman fformerly the Widow of Anthony Inglow's 
Deced And Execx of his Last Will & Testamt Came into Court * * *. 

Rice Wolfe Appeared in Court And by his Petition Sett fforth That 
[faded out] he hath Lately Intermarried with Mary the Daughtr of 
ffrancis Cor [faded] Deed (Who Dyed Intestate) * * *. 



132 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"March yb 27th, 1710. 
"Mary Senior "Widowe came to mee & Desired me to record the 
Age of her Daughter Frances Harding who was borne On the 23th 
Day of Aprill in the Yeare of our Lord 1704 soe thatt on the said 23th 
April next ensueing this Date she will be six Yeares of Age. 

"Testr. Roger Corbett, Clerk. 

* * * Ye Grand Jury were called over & all appeared and 
Gave in their Presentments Vizt : Wee of the Grand Jury thinks fitt 
thatt the Roade upon the bank of Lewis Creeke Layd out by the six 
men bee made Good by the Towne Hundred, Anderson Parker fore- 
man. The Court thinks fitt Thatt if the ysons agt whose Land the 
breach of the Roade on the banke aforesaid will nott mend itt itt 
must Lye till further Order. 

September 6th, 1709. 

Mary Westcott Widow &- Adstratrix of Francis Cornewall Gent 
deed apeared and according to a former Order of Court in Sept. 1708 
forthwith Devided betweene ye two Heires, Francis and Mary, by 
a Jury of twelve men & Captn Pemperton Surveyor * * *. 

[Abigail West prays the Court for some Cattle left to Tabitha West 
daughter of John West & Eliz. his Wife.] 

Stephen Kanning exhibits his Acct agt Eliz. Barker Widowe deed 
for attendance 10 days in her sicknesse & 3 dayes after death till 
she was buried £1 16s Od. * * *_ 

[Saml Dickinson & Tho. Mariner sumoned to bring Inventory of 
estate of Mathew Spicer deed, of this county.] 

September [7th?], 1709. 

Petition of Abigail West being this day read and discoursed upon 
the Petition setting forth &c, Justice Walker exhibits an Order of 
Court under ye Clarks hand, in Sept. 1708 Orphans Court for five 
pound for ye funerall Charges of Tabitha West daughter of John West 
deed to bee paid out of the Estate of the said Tabitha. Abigail West 
by Edward Parker prayes ye Courts Opinion whether or nott the two 
Children mentioned in ye petition were nott next heires att Law to 
ye sd Tabitha — the Court refuses theire Opinion, & putts Abigail 
West to prove itt. Continued to ye next adjourned Orphans Court. 

September 22d, 1709. 

Att an adjourned Orphans Court to ye 22th Instant * * * 
John Haverly sonn of Anthony Haverly late of this County deed, 
appeared in this Court, being of the Age of nineteen yeares, three 
weekes before Christmas next * * * 

William Haverly aged 17 yeares Aprill ye 7th, 1709 next appeared 

^ 4: ^ 

Andreas or Andrewe Haverly sonn of sd Anthony Haverly next 
appeared aged fifteen yeares in July last, and Chose Tho. Parker his 
Master wth him to live & dwell in the Nature of an Apprentice untill 
hee shall arrive att the full Age of One & twenty yeares ye sd Thomas 
Parker to learne him the Mistery & Arte of a Blacksmith & write 
& reade EngHsh to find him Meat drink &c and att the next Orphans 
Court to bee held in Mrch next ensueing to pay & Deliver to ye Jus- 



COURT RECORDS. 133 

tices of sd Court for time being the sume of One pound ten Shillings 
to bee disposed of att the Courts Pleasure for the use of sd Orphan & 
to give him att expiration according to Law. 

Next appeared Daniel Haverly sonn of sd Anthony aged 12 yeares 
last July, & Hester Beckett daughter of Alexander Beckett aged 4 
yeares in October next ensueing the Lad chose his brother Anthony 
for Guardian, ye Girle ye Court assigned him Guardian to * * *. 

Next appeared James Haverly sonn of the aforesd Anthony aged 
10 Yeares last July, to serve till 21 & Katherine Beckett aged 5 yeares 
May last the Girle to serve till 16, ye boy to bee learnt to write & reade 
ye Girle to reade, both bound to Mathew Parker by ye Courts Order 

PROBATE RECORDS. 

Christopher Taylor Register General op Kent and Sussex 
ON Delaware. William Clark, Deputy. 1683-1695. 

Will of James Lattan; Robert Hart Administrator. 

Abraham Wiltbank (son of Abram Wiltbank and Anne his wife) 
was borne about Twelve of the Clock at night ffriday the Tent day 
of ffebruary in the year of Our Lord God One Thousand Six Hundred 
Ninety and Nine. Their Daughter Abbigail was Borne the first day 
of May 1706. Jacob Wiltbank (son of Abraham and Anne Wilt- 
bank was Borne about Twelve of the Clock att night of Monday the 
Sixth Day of July in the year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Two Registered ye 11th of September 1702. 

Nehemiah Fpield, Deputy Register. 

Mary the Daughter of Rachell and Norton Claypoole of the Town 
of Lewis was borne the 10th day of the 8e month 1682 about the 
first hour in the morning in the presence of Mary the wife of Edward 
Southrine which said Mary was the midwife as allsoe in ye presence 
of Katherine Vines alias Hewes and her Daughter Elizabeth Hews. 
Honor Clarke, fonira Wiltbank, Margaret Mollestine, — na Gray, 
Sarah Stretcher and Sarah Bartlett. 

Richard Shoulter's Will January 28' 1682 Sussex Co. To Capt. 
Nathaniel Walker half the money due from said Walker unto me for 
my land at Rehour. Richard Bundock the ' other half. Presence 
of; — John his X B mark Barker. William Emmatt. 

Abbigail Eyres Daughter of John Eyres and Abbigail his wife was 
Borne the Seventeenth Day of June One Thousand Six Hundred 
Ninety and Seven (8 years old next June) John Eyres son of the 
same parents was borne on the Seventeenth Day of December One 
Thousand Seven Hundred and Two (Two years old last December). 
Registered by Desire of their mother the first Day of Jan. 1704 Per 
me Nehemiah Fpield Deputy Register. 

Richard Gill Testifie in open Court that Elizabeth Leveritt deceased 
about Two or Three Days befor her Decad did Will and Bequeith unto 
Richard Bundock a Mare or a Thousand pounds of Tobacco in Robert 
Bracey his hands for the which said Mare the said Robert Bracey did 
pay one Thousand pounds of Tobacco out of the said Elizabeth Leveritt 
her Estate and further did declare that if the said Robert Bracey did 



134 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

refuse to pay the said Thousand pounds of Tobacco it would trouble 
her that she would Com againe. Attested in open Court. 

Richard R Gill 
[torn] 11 mo. 1683. his mark 

Banns. 
Between Daniel Jones single man and Elizabeth Roades single 
woman. Lewis, Del. Oct 1, 1683. 

Between Abraham Westron widower and Mary Smith widow. 
Lewis, Del. Oct., 1683. 

Susan Fisher daughter in Law to Robert Bedwell of Dover River 
in Kent County departed this Life the 28th Day of the Eighte moneth 
1683. 

Will of Cornells Verhoofe Sick at the house of Richard Bundock 
in Sussex County Bequeithed to Barbara the fore daughter of Eliza- 
beth Parling she accepted with the rest of the children of Simon Par- 
ling the Backward point next to Pagons Creeke belonging to a deve- 
dent of Land called, the Ship Carpenters Yard. Unto Simon Parling 
so much. To Richard Bundock & his wife and etc. To John John- 
son Junr etc. To Thomas GoUidge alias Jones etc. To John Betts 
a land in Murderkil Hundred where John Betts now lives. Hal- 
manius Wiltbank & Peter Groundick Executors. Administrators 
to be careful to Transport half of Estate to Holland to my Brother- 
in-Law John Lilevoort (Vomb?) & my sister Eve Verhoofe. Dec. 
23, 1683. Witnesses: — Randle Shard, William Emmatt. 

Elizabeth Mosely Daughter of William and Hannah Mosely will 
be Eight years in the middle of next fiebruary That is to say she was 
Born in the middle of the month of fiebruary 1698. Recorded by 
her mothers request now the [Wife of James Richardson]. Aug, 21, 
1706. , N. Ffield Clk Reg. ..; 

Elizabeth Miers Daughter of John Miers and Mary His Wife was 
borne on the 20th day of November 1703. 

Whereas John ffoster widower and AUice Manloe widow have 
Obtained license to bee Joyned together in ye holy Estate of Matri- 
mony which said License bears Even Date with Those presents These 
are therefore to Certify that ye said Parties did on ye Tenth Day of 
July 1698 Solemnly in ye presents of Almighty God and before us 
ye underwritten witnesses att ye house of Mr. William Clark in ye 
town of Lewis in County aforesaid. John Ffoster 

Allice a Ffoster 
her mark 

Witnesses: — William Clark, Jonathan Baily, John Clark, Susanna 
her O mark ffreeman, Mary her un mark Miers, Mary Wolfinden, 
Nehemiah fBeld, John Miers, Henry Strecther, Robert Corbett, Will- 
iam Adams, James Claypoole, William Clampitt, Peter Lewis, Wrix- 
ham White, John X Carey, Edward -I- Carey, Henry X Allen. 

John Elme of this County Batchelor and Margaret Kelly of ye said 
County Spinster were married at the house of Mr. James Peterkin 
at the town of Lewis did solemnly Take each the other as Husband 
and Wife the 8th Day of September 1697. 

Witnesses: — John Hill, Justice; Roger Corbett, James Peterkin, 
Richard Paynter, Nazareth her N mark Halloway, Margaret Simson, 



COURT RECORDS. 13S 

Ann her X mark Seaton, Elizabeth her E mark Peterkin, Nehemiah 
ffield, John his H mark Haynes, Elizabeth her E mark Haynes, 
Jane her D mark Peterkin, John his X mark Elme, Margaret her N 
mark Elme. 

Letter Administracon Elloner Richards County of Sussex Robert 
Richards deceased Day Thurteenth of January 1684. 

Will of John Depree to sons of John Depfee and Jacob Depree 
land bovight of Capt. John Avery and to their brethern, sisters and 
etc. January S, 1684. John Depree. 

William Emmatt. William ffootcher. 

Robert Trayle of Lewis County to Alexander Mouliston etc. amounts 
due from John Manloe, Norton Claypoole, John CuUison, David 
Corsey, and for Henrick Mouliston etc. land at the fork of the great 
Kill Beginning at the lower end of the town. his 

Robert M Trayle 
mark 
John K Kiphaven, Mathias Vanderhagen, Alburtis Jacobs. 

John CuUison and Barbrey his wife letter of Administracon upon 
the estate of Mathias Everson. 

Letter of Administracon Mary Southrin upon the estate of Edward 
her husband. 

Letter Administracon Thomas Hodgekings upon the estate of 
Jacob Shattham. 

Letter Administracon Thomas Hodgekings upon the estate of 
Harmon Comelison. 

Whereas George Truitt of the County of Somersett in the Province 
of Mary Land Being near Related unto PauU Marsh Late of the 
County of Sussex. 

John Tuxbury single man and EUenor Richards widow married 
5th March, 1685 at the house of John Roades take each other as 
husband and wife. Wm. Clark, John Roades, Harclos Shepard, 
Henry Strachter, John Simons, William Kennig, Moris Edwards, 
John Stuicbury, Ellenor Stuckbury, francis X Williams, John + 
Jones, Thomas X Jones, Elizabeth E Roades, widow, Johana + Si- 
mons. 

Coppie of a Mortaig of Thomas Hodgkins Shallup known as the 
Sea Horse now riding in the Creeke of Lewis to John Wrighte. The 
Sloop was bought by Thomas Hodgkins & John Rodgers from John 
Wright and Daniel Jones 9th Day of February 1684. Thomas Hodg- 
kins, John Vines, Henry Stracther, Alexander M Mouliston. 

Georg Young single man and Mary Southrin widow married on 
the 24th of June 1685 at the Towne of Lewis. Georg Young 

Mary MS Young. 

Wm. Clark, Luke Wattson, John Vines, John Hill, Wm. Emmatt, 
Joshua Barksteed, Will Arendeal, Morris Edwards, Salmon Jones, 
Thomas Besent, Arther Star, Honor Clark, Catherine Star, Rachell 
Claypoole, Elizabeth Pemberton, Elizabeth Hill. 

Thomas Hodgkins bill of sale of a heffer to Cornelis Wiltbank 
18th June, 1685. Thomas Hodgkings. John Brown, Henry Stracther, 
William Emmatt. 



136 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Griffith Jones bill of Sale of a heffer to Rebackah Wiltbank 16th 
May 1685. Griffith Jones. John Vines, Thomas Besant. 

Thos. Hodgking bill of sale of a cow to Rebaekah Wiltbank 
18th June, 1685. Thomas Hodgkings. John Brown, Henry Stract- 
her, William Emmatt. 

Robert Bracey senor widdower and Ann Douglis widdow were 
married 30th July, 1685 at the house of William Clark in Lewis. 
Witnesses: — Wm. Clark, James Huling, Henry Stracther, William 
Rodeney, Charles Haynes, John Stuckbury, Richard Harvey, ffrancis 
Williams, Homor Clark, Elenor Stuckbury, Burkee B. Kiphaven, 
Sarah A. Williams, Margaret her R mark Pendree, 

Luke Wattsons bond to Nicholas Rideout late of Sharftbury in 
the County of Darcett England, 3d March, 1685. Wm. Clark, Jo- 
seph his T mark Thorne. 

Alburtis Jacobs single man married to Martha Kiphaven 8th October 
1685 in the house of John Kiphaven in Lewis. Beorcha Kiphaven, 
John Kiphaven, Wm Clark, John Roades, Henry Stracther, Moris 
Edwards, Nehmiah field, Henry Moulston, William Rodeney, 
will Emmatt, John vines, Norttron Claypoole, Arther Stare, William 
Carter, John Browne. 

John Walker single man of Kent County married Mary Paynter 
single woman of Sussex County 18th October, 1685 at the house of 
John Kiphaven of Lewis. Richard Paynter, Sarah Paynter, Wm. 
Clark, John Roades, Henry Stracther, will Rodeney, Xehemiah ffield, 
John Browne, Arther Star, Morris Edwards, William Carter, William 
Emmatt, Henry Moulston, Alburtis Jacobs, Robert Holgate, 

Johanias Winsteed single man married Margaret Penree single 
woman 18th Oct. 1685 at the house of John Kiphaven of Lewis 
Jane Winsteed, Wm. Clark, John Roades, Henry Stracther, Alburtis 
Jacobs, Wm. Carter, Morris Edwards, William Rodeney, John Browne, 
John Vines, Norton Claypoole, Robert Holgate, William Emmatt, 
John Walker, Arther Star, Nehemiah ffield. 

Robert Godsell late of the Kingdom of Ireland and then of Sussex 
County did make his will 23d of November in favor of the following: 
Charles Spooner, Edward T Barrey, John White, Apalina Taylor. 

Sarah Godsell's letter of Administracon on the estate of Robt. God- 
sell her deceased husband, 23d of November, 1685. 

In the will of Robt. Hart of Cedar Creeke his wife Margaret was 
willed his house etc. to Robert her son etc. His daughter Margaret 
etc. October 4, 1685. Jonathan ffox, Ann Jennings, SBymon Charles. 

Margaret Hart's letter of Administracon on Robert Hart's estate 
3d of December, 1685. 

In the will of John ffishermade 6th of February, 1685, the property, 
land, etc. to his wife Margaret and children Thomas, John, James, 
Rachell, Sarah, and Alls Fisher. Wm. Emmatt, Richard R.C 
Coore, Ann S DougduU. 

Margaret's and Thomas' letter of Administracon on the estate 
of John Fisher, 30th April, 1686. 

Marriage between John Coe Batchelor and Elizabeth Roads Spin- 
ster at the house of Mrs. Comfort Scott at Rehoboth, Delaware, June 
30, 1697. Wrixham White, Peter Lewis, Richard R. Hinman, John 
Hill, Justice; Thos. Oldman, Thos. Besent, Samuel Dickisson, Heary 
H. Allen, John I Carey, Joseph O. Magnab, Comfort C Scott, Grace 



COURT RECORDS. 137 

X Lewis, James Walker, James Simson, Margaret Simson, Sarah 
Clifon, Elizabeth Hill, Ehz Stokeley. 

Marriage between Charles Spooner single man and Susanna Bur- 
ough single woman, December 4, 1686. Wm. Clark, Wm. Dyer, 
John Hill, Baptis Newcomb, Morris Edwards, Charles I Bright Robert 
I Murdock, Ann A. Newcomb, Ehzabeth Hill, Jane O Potter, Esseble 
V Torbut, Lidy X Patte, Wm. H award, Wm. P. Hignett (?), John I 
"Webster. 

Major Dyer's letter of Administracon on the estate of Capt. Nathan- 
iel Walker formerly of New England and late of Northampton County, 
Virginia who died three months after July 20, 1685. 

Mary the daughter of Luke and Margaret Watson was born the 
28th day of the 12th month 1685 at Prime Hooke in the County of 
Sussex. 

John the son of John Bradshaw of Kent County borne the 2 2d 
Day of December, 1686. 

Wilham the son of Robt. and Rebecka Millner bom the 12th day 
of April, 1676. 

Mercy the Daughter of Robt. and Rebecka Millner borne the 15th 
12th month, 1678. 

Alexander the son of Alexander and Rebecka Draper borne the 
22 day of ye 9th month, 1680, Sussex Co. 

Rebecka the daughter of AUexander and Rebecka Draper of Sussex 
County borne the 4th day of the second month 1683. 

Henry the sonn of AUexander and Rebecka Draper borne the 
9th day of the first Month called March 1685-6 of Sussex Co. 

Elizabeth the daughter of Norton & Rachell Claypoole was borne 
at Lewis in ye Sussex County the 16th Day of the 3d month called 
May 1687 aboute 3'e seaventh houre in the e\-ening in the presence 
of Thomas Wynne and Elizabeth his wife, ye midwife & Jane Maud 
her daughter Hannah Baily, Sarah Strechther Jane Hodgkins Sarah 
Painter and Helen Sikes. 

Marriage between Henry Smith and Sarah Godsell, February 
5, 1686. Henry Getto, Dorathy C Getto, Henry Bowman, Luke 
Watson, Junr; Thomas Tilton, Samuel Watson, Bryant Roles, 
John his IW marke Watson, Sarah her O marke Watson, Edward 
his EM marke Morgan, Elizabeth her EP marke Parsley, Richard 
Renords. 

Banns of George Rigs & Ann Thomas Batchellor and Spinister 
April 17, 1687. 

Mary Webb widow of Isack Webb of Kent County March 15, 1687. 

A deed of Gift Henry Getto to Peter Godsell, March 5, 1687. Ed- 
ward Berry, Ellinor Midleton, Henry Bowman. In the hands of 
Robert Turner and John Fuller for the education of Peter Godsell. 
If he dies before he is of age the money goes to his mother Sarah 
Smith. In the will of Henry Getto his wife Dorothy Getto etc. so 
long as she lives with his son Henry Smith to nay grandchild Peter 
Godsell etc. March 6, 1687. Bryant B R Roales, Edward e Berry, 
Henry Bowman. 

Marriage between George Riggs and Ann Thomas now of the town 
of Lewis but lately of Phyladelphya June 19, 1687. Thomas Wynn, 
John Roades, ffrancis Cornwall, Phillip Russell, Arthur Starr, Morrice 
Edwards, Norton Claypoole, Honor Clark, Adam Johnson, George 



138 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Davis, Albertus Jacobs, Philip Th Lehnmaine, Jacob Warrin, Eliz- 
abeth Wynn, Mary Cornwall, Jane Maude,. Sarah Clifton. 

Thomas Grove single man late of Philadelphia married Sarah 
Smith widow of Sussex County January 7, 1692 at the house of Sarah 
Smith att Prime Hook. Lulce Watson, Wm. Clark, John Hill, Hon- 
nor Clark, Elizabeth Hill, Mary Bowman, Mary Wattson, The. Price, 
Henry Bowman, Peter X Godsell,' Thomas Morgan, Alexr Grant, 
Luke Wattson, Junr; Will Rodeney, Yoems Syonsen, James Thomas. 

Allexander Draper's letter of Administracon upon the estate of 
Jno. Pearce. 31st October, 1687. 

Joane Hart in her will made 20th Janurary made her son and grand- 
daughter her heirs, John Richards and Sarah Richards. Allexander 
Draper, William Emmatt. 

John the sonn of John and Rachell Hilliyard of Kent County borne 
the ISth day of October, 1686. 

Henry the son of Henry and Jane Permaine of Kent County borne 
the seaventeenth day of the Ninth Month, 1686. 

Marriage of Isack Bowd late of Philadelphia single man to Jane 
Mawde of Lewis single woman or spinster. September IS, 1687, in 
the house of Norton Claypoole. Robt. Clifton, Justice of the Peace; 
Norton Claypoole, Clerk & Register; John Wynne, Adam Johnson, 
Henry Mollestine, John Millington, Step. Sargent, Sam. Pope, Ne- 
hemiah ffield, Johannis Winster, Joseph Alef, Mathew M. osborne, 
Sarah Screcther M., Sarah N Russell, Mary MOC MoUeston, Margaret 
Mollestine, Rachell Claypoole. 

John Roades will his daughter Elizabeth etc. daughter Patience 
land next to John Symons that he now lives on Given to Grace 
White etc. ajoining land of her brother Wrixham White. My son 
John the residence. Unto my dear and tender mother etc. Unto 
Nehemiah ffield etc. Unto Sarah Strechter wife of Henry Strechter. 
Unto John How etc. Unto my brother Richard Tull. Dear wife 
Comfort her thirds. Sept. 17, 1687. John Millington, Nehemiah 
ffield. 

Verbal will of James Saykes 8th of December 1687. Affidavit of 
Allexander Draper of same, a daughter and son in this country and 
two children in England. Allexander Draper, Thomas Price. 

A true Inventory of ye Eftate of John pearce deceafed 

* * * The Advantage at Robert Cliftons * '* *; Norton 

Claypooles note * * *; John Sunners bill * * *; Thomas 

Pembertons bill * * *. Apraysed by us ye 26th day of ye 9th 

month 1687 Wm Emmatt 

John Price 

ft 

Wm Emmatt one of ye praifers of ye Eftate of John Pearce At- 
tefted the 6th Xber 1687. 

Norton Claypoole deputy Regifter. 

Letter of Adminiftration to Nathaniell Sikes of the Eftate of James Sikes 
late of ye County of Suffex. 

SufEex County In the territories of penfiUvania the 11th day of 
the 12th month Called ffebruary 1687. * * * Know yee that 
Nathaniell Sikes Heir Apparent of James Sikes deceafed late of the 



COURT RECORDS. 139 

faid County of Suffex having brought unto me Norton Claypoole 
Deputy Regifter of the faid County the laft will and teftament of 
the faid James Sikes proved by the Teftimony of Allexander Draper 
and Thomas price and he the faid Nathaniel! Sikes defiring that he 
might have letters of Adminiftration for the Execution of the faid 
A^IU according to the Contents thereof and the laws of this Govern- 
ment etc. * * * Mentions James Claypoole Late Regifter Gen- 
erall of the faid province & Countys of SufEex and Kent etc. * * *_ 
Norton Claypoole, deputy Regifter of ye County of Suffex. 

Nuncative Will of John Badger viz Wee Robert Tomlinfon and 
James Hughs Doe Affirme and depofe that John Badger Deceafed 
did fome time before his Departure * * * difpofe of all his 
Eftate goods and Chattells * * * to Antony Inloyee to the 
truth whereof we have figned this fixth day of March Ano 1687-8 

Robert his X marke Tomlinson 
James Hughs. 

The AVittneffes * * * Attefted * * * that the faid John 
Badger was Compos Mentis and that he faid foe feverall times * * * 
Attefted the 6th day of the firft month 1687-8. 

Teftis Norton Claypoole Clerr, 

Robert Tomlinson Attefted * * * that the faid John Badger 
told of A house and land he had in Antego. [No mention of County]. 

lilickell Sadler & John How Their obligation to Stephen Wlietman. 
Know all men by thefe prefents that wee John How and Mickell 
Sadler both of the County of Suffex * * * are held and firmly 
bound unto Stephen Whetman of ye aforefaid County of Suffex 
* * * in WitnefE Whereof Wee have hereunto fett oure hands 
and feals the tenth day of ye firft Month Called March Anno Dona; 
1686,; The Condittion of the above obligation is fuch that if the above 
bounden John How and Mickell Sadler their Heirs Executors Ad- 
miniftrators or AfSgns or either of them doe and fhall well and truly 
pay or caufe to be paid * * * at or before the 10th day of the 
next twelfth Month Called ffebruary withoute fraud or further delay 
at the towne of Lewis * * * that then the above obligation to 
be voyde and of no effect or elce to be and Remaine in full power 
force and vertue. John How [feal] 

MicHAELL Sadler [feale] 
sealed and delivered In the prefence of us 

Wm Clark 

Will Rodeney. 

Nehemiah the Son of Nehemiah and Rachel fheld Relicte of Norton 
Claypoole Deceesed was borne on the Twentieth Day of December 
in the year One Thoufand Six hundred Eighty and Nine, And his 
younger Brother William ffield Borne on the Twenty fifth of Decem- 
ber In the year One Thoufand Six hundred Ninety and three. 

Copie of Ann Rigs letter of Adminiftration. 
Suffex County. In the Territories of pennfiUvania the 27th day 
of the firft Month 1688 * * * Know yee that Ann Rigs the 
widdow and Rellix of George Rigs * * * deceafed having brought 



140 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

unto me Norton Claypoole Deputy Regifter of the fd County the laft 
will and Teftament of him the fd George Rigs * * * ghe having 
proved the fame before me According to Law, and fhe the faid Ann 
Rigs defiring that fhe might have letters of Adminiftration for the 
Execution of the faid Will according to the contents thereof * * * 
I doe therefore * * * Grant Letters of Adminiftration unto 
her * * * for the Ends and purpofes aforefaid; * * * 

Norton Claypoole Deputy Regifter. 

Whereas Rowland Perrey of This County Widower and Esther 
Coore of the said County widow Have Publifhed and openly Declared 
their Banes and Intentions of Marriage * * * Thefe may Cer- 
tifie That ye Said Parties did on ye fourteenth Day of July in ye Year 
of Our Lord God 1698 Att the Dwelling houfe of Jacob KoUack in ye 
Town of Lewis * * * Take Each The other as Hufband and 
Wife in manner and form following, * * * 

Rowland R Parrey 
EsTHERE Parrey. 

Testes: — Jonathan Baily. Juftice, John Smith, James fiifher, Rich- 
ard Dobfon, James Seattonn, George Thomfon, Nathll Starr, William 
Adams, Ralph Norcott, Anne her H mark Seattonn, Elizabeth her 
X mark Moleston, Kathrine X Davies, Richard R W Williams, Roger 
Corbett, William Clampitt, William Dyre, Sher; Nehemiah ifield. 

The laft Will & Teftament of George Rigs. 
In the name of God Amen this fixth day of the fixth Month Anno 
qui Domini 1687, I George Riggs of Suffex County * * * 2dly. 
Next I doe give and bequeath unto Ann Riggs my beloved, wife all 
my Worldly Eftate * * *. s^ly. I doe Apoynt & Conftitute 
William Clark and Thomas Wynne * * * to Affift Ann Riggs 
my beloved wife the best that they may * * *_ 

George Riggs [feal] 
signed fealed and delivered in the prefence of us' 
Barrents Gerris 
Daniell Ishell 
Thomas Besent 

Endoffed on the back fide. Thomas Beffant one of the evidences 
to the within written will being legally Attefted declared the fame 
to be the Act and deed of George Riggs deceafed 7th day of the firft 
month 1687-8. Barents Gerris one other of the evidences * * * 
appeared before me the 26th day of the firft month 1688 * * *. 
Teftis Norton Claypoole Dep: Register 

Certificate of I\Iarriage ffor Thomas Oldman & Elizabeth liis wife, 
Thefe are to Certify etc. After due publication according to the 
laws etc. Thomas Oldman Batchellor of the towne of Lewis * * * 
Carpenter tooke Elizabeth sikes the Daughter of James Sikes deceafed 
fpinfter * * * to be hi^; lawful! wife at the houfe of him the 
faid Thomas Oldman In the ti.wne of Lewis Aforefaid * * * this 
twentyeth day of the firft Month called March 1687-8. 

TH0iM.\s Oldjian [feal] 

Elizabeth Oluman [feal] 




OREEN HILL LIGHTHOUSE. 



COURT RECORDS. 141 

Albertus Jacobs, Henry MoUefton, Norton Claypoole, Phillip Ruffell, 
Mofes Oboab, Nehemiah ffield, Morrice Edwards, ferrimia Scott, 
the mark M of William Orion, John Miers, John Redwood, Richard 
Daygtet, Samuel Pope, John Millington, the marke 6 of Sarah painter, 
Catherine Starr, Rachell Claypoole, Sarah Dyer, Mary Dyer, The 
mark M of Margaret MoUefton, the marke + of Martha Jacobs, the 
marke + of Rebecka Willaims, Sarah her + marke Stretcher. 
An Inventory of the Eftate of James sikes lately Deceafed. 

The laft Will and Teftament of Major Wm. Spencer. 
I William Spencer Senr of Cedar Creke in Suffex County etc. 
Imp: I give unto my beloved wife ffrancis Spencer the plantation' 
whereon I now life etc. during her widowhood allfo all the Eftate in 
Accomack that her ffather bequeathed to her; land bequeathed to 
Daughter Margarett Spencer; land bequeathed to fonn William 
Spencer; to wife land on south fide of Mifpillian Creek; property 
sould to William Dyer * * * -nrell beloved fon William Spencer 
to be my Executor and to Adminiftrate * * * this my Eftate 

* * * in wittnefs whereof I have hereunto fett my hand and feal 
this twenty ninth day of the Ninth Month 1687 * * *. 

the marke of 
Wm Spencer fenr [feal] 
Signed fealed and delivered In the pretence of us: 
The mark of Art A Johnson Vankerk; 
the marke of Robert R. Twilley 
Wm Emmatt. 

The Evidences to the above Written Will appeared in open Court 
& * * * declared that the fame is the Act and deed of William 
Spencer Senr deceafed * * * the second day of the third 
month 1688 Wittnefs their hands Wm Emmatt. 

the marke of Art. A Johnson Vankirk; the marke of Robert R 

TWILLY. 

The laft Will & Teftament of Major William Dyre. 

I WilHam Dyre of ye County of Suffex * * * Efqr * * * 

Item. I Will and Bequeath unto my Elldeft son William Dyre 

now at Bofton in New England all my plantation or land scittuate 

Lying & being in the Broad Kill In Suffex County Aforesaid Called 

Rumbley place, * * * 

Item. I give and bequeath unto my fecond fon Edmund Dyre 
one plantation Lying and being upon Love Creek, In the County 
Aforesaid * * * formerly Called fundialls (but now Beaverwick) 

* * * other lands held formerly in partnership with Stephen 
Whettman bounded by lands of ferrimia Scott, & Thomas Branscomb 

* * * John Roades & William Roades * * *. 

Item. I give and bequeath unto my youngeft fonn James Dyre, 

* * * Land lying and being upon Mifpillen Creek, In the County 
aforefd — other lands Lying in the forke of the Broad Kill — same 
county — bounded upon the Beaver dam & upon prime Hooke Creek — ■ 
other land in Newcaftle County 

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Elldeft Daughter Sarah Dyre 
land lying betweene the Cold fpring and the Cyprufs Bridge in the 
County of Suffex * * *■, 



142 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Item. I give & bequeath unto my youngest Daughter Mary Dyre 
land Knowne by the name of the White horfe, lately bought of Charls 
pickering * * * land lying in Angola Neck * * * fome- 
time the land of Richard Shoulfter * * *. 

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Deare and well beloved wife 
Mary Dyre * * * Land Lying and being in Sedar Neck Suffex 
County * * * other land fcittuate & being Adjoyning to the 
towne of Lewis * * * with two towne lots * * * houfhold 
goods etc, * * * debt due by bond from Hendrick Van den 
Borgh of Newcaftle * * * one debt * * * jn money or 
Come due from Juftice Anderfon of the fd towne of Newcaftle * * * 
debt due by bond in wheat or porke due from Samuel Curtis of Alla- 
ways Creek in Weft Jarfey * * * one other debt due by accompt 
and bill of Capt Wm Markham * * * debt due from Wm Afsberry, 
due by Mortgage * * * now in the hands of Capt Stephanus 
Van Courtland of New Yorke * * * also land in Narraganfet 
Country, in New England * * * all Right & title of Inherrit- 
ance to the Eftate of my Late fEather William Dyre, deed, upon 
Roade Ifland * * * plantation and allfoe one Ifland Called 
Dyres Ifland * * * also ye ballance of Mr Thomas LLoyds 
bond * * * Land lying at Reading in New England, and two 
Iflands Called the' Clabboard Iflands in Gafcoe Bay in New England 

Item. * * * Wife Mary Dyre and eldeft fonn William Dyre 
* * * sole executrix and executor * * * Sr Edmund An- 
drofs mentioned * * * Date of will twentieth day of ffebruary 
1687-8 * * * I Request my ffriends Mr. John Hill and Mr. 
Samuel Gray to be affifting to my wife & children In the management 
of their affairs in thefe parts ; * * * Sr Edmund Androfs Governr 
Genii of New England to assist them in New England, or there- 
unto belonging * * * Wm Dyre [feal] 
Signed fealed & delivered In the prefence of us to two : — 

Charles Sanders 

Will Rodeney 

The Evidences * * * attefted In open Court Held for the 

County of Suffex the Sth day of the 4th Month Called June 1688 * * 

Teftis Norton Claypoole Clerk and Deputy Regifter, 

John Richards Letter of Administration on ye Estate of Thomas Mottles- 
ton Deceast. 
Suffex County * * * ye 3d day of ye Sth moth Annoq : 
Dom: 1688 * * * Know yee that John Richards late of Mary- 
land * * * haveing marryed ye Relict of Thomas Molefon late 
of this County * * * Granted by Court to take out letters of 
Administration on said Estate. 

Ff Cornwall, Depty Regyr of ye County Suffex. 

ffrancis Cornwall son of & Mary Cornwall was Borne on the four- 
teenth day of the first moth Annoq Dom; 1687-8 * * * Att 
Spring :houfe neare Lewis * * *. 

John MoUiston son of Abraham and Lidia Molliston was Borne 
on The Second Day of October Ano Domi 1694. 



COURT RECORDS. , 143 

Coppey of Thomas May & Margarett Spencer there Certificate of 

IMarriage. 
These may Certify etc. that upon ye 28th day of ye 5th moth in 
ye yeare of our Lord 1688, there was a marryage Solemnized betweene 
Thomas May of Suffex County etc. Batcheler, & Margrett Spencer 
of ye Same County Singlewoman * * * 

Thomas May 

Mar : her MM mark Ma Y 

Wm. Spencer, ffrancis Spencer, Thomas Price, Luke Wattfon, 

Jonathan Balife, John Price, Alexr. Draper, Wm. Emmet, James 

Spencer, Mary Bowman, Samll. Pollard, Robert his R marke Twil- 
leys, John Dickifon. 

Certificate of Marriage Between James Carpenter and Affyance Piles. 
County Suffex: This may Certify That I James Carpenter Widower 
And Affyance Piles Spinfter Both of This County * * * accord- 
ing to Law made Publicacon of Their Bains of Matrimony and Inten- 
tion * * * Take each other as Husband and Wife * * * Att 
ye houfe of William Piles * * * The Eigth Day of Decembr 
1698. James his F mark Carpenter 

Affyance her E mark Carpenter 

Wittneffes: William Piles, William X Piles, Junr; John Hill, Juf- 
tice, John Miers, John Waatfon, Isaac Wattfon, Mark N Mitchell, 
Elizabeth E Kirwithy, Sufanah S Crowell, Isaac IW Piles, Comfort 
C Piles, Elisabeth X ffifher. 

These Are to Certifie That Thomas Joyce of This County Batchelor 
and Sarah Sugars Spinftr Haveing Publifhed (as They alleage) Their 
Banes of Matrimony * * * Di(j on ye 29th Day of July Ano 
Domi 1697 * * * Take each other as Hufband and Wife etc. 

Thomas his T mark Joyce 

Witnesses: — Daniel Ithell, Thomas Grove, Cornelias Wiltbanck, 
Isaac Wattson, Henry T Tucker, Thomas Ad Morgan, William Smith, 
James Claypoole, Isaac his X mark Moore, Nehemiah fEeld, Jane 
Wiltbanck, Sarah S Grove, Mary M Ithell, Elifabeth M Tucker, 
Elisabeth C Wiltbanck, Elifabeth X Moleston. 

These may Certifie That Alexander Molefton Junr of This County 
Batchelor and Elizabeth Trout of ye Said County Spinftr Haveing 
According to Law Publifhed their Intentions of Marriage Did on ye 
Day and Date of Thefe presents in ye houfe of Alexander Moleston 
Senr in ye Town of Lewis * * * Take each ye other As Hvif- 
band and Wife * * * ye Thirtieth Day of June Ano Domi 1697. 

Alexander Moleston Junr 
Elisabeth her X mark Moleston. 

Witnefses: — Wm Clark, John Miers, James Walker, James Peter- 
kin, Philip Rufsell, Alex Moleston, Jno E Molefton, Tho. Pemberton, 
Jno K Kipshaven, William M. Molefton, Johnathan Baily, Wm 
Dyre, James Seattoun, Cornelius Wiltbanck, Nehemiah ffield, Edward 
Stretcher, Elizabeth Taylor, Sarah X Sugars. 



144 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Com: Sussex December the 6th 1689. 
Lett this Certifie whom It may Concerne That Nehemiah ffield 
Batchelor and Rachel Claypoole widdow Did * * * Take Each 
other as Hufband and Wife etc * * * Nehemiah Ffield 

Rachel Field 

Henry Strecther, Thomas Oldman, Arthvir Starr, Jacob his IK mark 
Collock, Phihp Rufsell, Will Rodeney, Katherine Starr, Elifabeth 
Pemberton, Elizabeth Oldman, Mary Dyre, Sarah her S mark Strect- 
her, Sarah her S mark Rufsell, Mary her X mark Collock. 

True Copy: Nehemiah Ffield Dept Regiftr. 

Peter Ray-man and Adary Richardfon Their Certificate of Marriage. 
* * * Thefe May Certifie That Peter Rayman Batchelor and 
Mary Richardfon Widow both of this County of Sufsex * * * 
Haveing Duely and according to law Publifhed their Said Banes 
Did in the Said Peter Raytnans own houfe * * * Take Each 
other as Hufband and Wife * * * on the Twenty fifth Day 
of No^•ember in the year of Our Lord One Thoufand Six hundred 
Ninety and four. Peter Rayman 

Mary her ffi mark Rayman 

The: Pemberton, Loury Strecther, John Croutch, Richard Paynter, 
Richard his RH mark Harvey, Roger Corbett, Richard Parr, Peter 
Lewis, Nehemiah ffield, John . Brearday [?], William Clampit, Samll 
Adams, John his I mark Deprey, Edward X his mark Williams. 

True Copy, Nehemiah Ffield Depty Regisr. 

Copie Jane Simons Letter of Adininiftr on liur Hufbands Eftate. 

Whereas Jone Simons the Late wife of John Simons of the County 
of Suffex * * * planter Lately deceafed Appeared before me 
William Clark deputy Regifter * * * defiering to take out Let- 
ters of Adminiftion upon the Eftate of the faid John Simons 
* * * And by Comiffion from John Blackwell Esqr Govemr 
of the aforefaid Provience and Territories I hereby Grant Letters of 
Adminiftron unto the faid Jone Simons widdow of all the Eftate 
etc * * * Given * * * at Lewis in the faid County of 
Suffex the ninth day of the feaventh Month Called September in 
the year of our Lord According to the Englifh Account one Thoufand 
fix hundred Eighty nine etc. 

Whereas Morris Edwards of the County of Suffex etc. appeared 
before me William Clark deputy Regifter etc. * * * defiering 
to be admitted to take out Letters of Adminiftron as one of the 
Princable Craditers of the Eftate of John Millington Late of this County 
deceafed * * * I doe therefore * * * Grant Letters of 
Adminiftron unto him the faid Morris Edwards of all the Estate 
etc * * * Given * * * at Lewis * * * thg fj^t day 
of the Eight Moneth in the year of our Lord According to the Englifh 
account one Thoufand fix hundred Eighty nine etc. 

Letters of Adininiftr on William Speitcers Eftate. 
The third day of the Tenth Moneth in the year of our Lol-d Ac- 
cording to the Englifh account one Thoufand fix hundred Eighty nine 



COURT RECORDS. 145 

"William Spencer of the County of Suffex etc. * * * Brought the 
Laft will and Tef lament of william Spencer fenr Late of the a fore faid 
County of Suffex deceafed; And haveing made proof e of the fame by 
the Teftamony of William Emmatt And Johnfon ver Kirk and Robert 
Twiley wittnefes fubfcribed to the faid will, * * * j (joe there- 
fore * * * Permitt him the faid William Spencer to Admin- 
ifter upon all the Estate etc. * * * Given * * * at Lewis 

* * *. Wm Clark, deputy Regifter. 

Sufsex: — Banns of Matrimony Between William Smith Late of 
Philadelphia but now of this County Widowr and Jane Smith of this 
County Widow, If any psons Can Show any LawfuU Cause Why 
These Two may not be joyned Together in the Holy State of Matri- 
mony Lett Them under Write Thes Prsents, or Ever hereafter hold 
their Peace William ye mark of W Smith 

Jane ye mark of X Smith 

Lewis Town ye 17th July 170S. 

Signed by me one of Her Majties Justices for this County, Philip 
Rufsell. 

Endorced on the back of the Sd Banns as foUoweth, ne (vizt) : — - 
Septr ye 2d 1705. The within Intended Marriage was Confumated 
in ye prsence of us: Tho. ye mrk of T Edwards, Cornelius ye mrk of 
H Hide, William Drigers, Bryan ye mrk of H London, Joseph Bravan, 
Peter Squyre, Mary ye mrk of S Smith, Peter Ixwonboult, Rebeckah 
ye mrk of R Piles, Francis ye mrk of W Cornwell, Tho. ffinwick, Jus- 
tice; WF, John Winch, Mary ye mrk of 3 Abchurch. 

Wm. ye mrk of M Smith 
Jane ye mrk of X Smith 

Will Emmatts Letters of Adminiftracon on John Vines Eftate. 

The forth day of the Tenth Moneth Called december in the year 
of our Lord According to the Englifh Account one Thoufand fix hun- 
dred Eighty nine etc. * * * Then Came before me William Em- 
matt and brought the Laft will and Teftament of John Vines Late of 
the County of Suffex deceafed and * * * made proofe of the 
fame by the Teftamony of Georg dod and the name of Ben Kearl 

* * * wittnefes to the faid will * * * I doe therefore * * * 
grant Letter of Adminiftracon of the Eftate etc. * * * at Lewis. 

Wm: Clark deputy Regifter. 

Copie of Mary ffootcher Letters of Adminiftion on her Hufband Eftate. 

Whereas Mary ffootcher widdowr the Late wife of William ffootcher 
of the County of Suffex etc. * * * deceafed, did the day of the 
date here of Appeare before me William Clark deputy Regifter * * * 
defiering to take out Letters of Adminiftion of the Eftate of the faid 
William ffootcher, * * * I doe therefore * * * Grant Let- 
ters of Adminiftracon of the Eftate * * * to the faid Mary 
ffootcher * * * Given * * * at Lewis * * * the three 
and Twentieth day of the Eleaventh Moneth in the year of our Lord 
etc. one Thoufand fix hundred Eighty nine * * *. 



146 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

: Copie of Tho Mays Letters of Adminiftion on will Spencers Eftate. 

Whereas Thomas May & Margaret his wife fister to WilHam Spencer 
Late of the County of Suffex etc. * * * deceafed did the day of 
the date hereof appeare Before me William Clark deputy Regifter etc. 
* * * defiering (as next of Kind) to take out Letters of Admin- 
iftracon of the Eftate of the faid william Spencer * * * j doe 
therefore * * * grant Letters of Adminiftion unto them * * * 
Given * * * at Lewis * * * the firft day of the thurd 
Moneth Called May in the year of our Lord * * * one Thoufand 
fix hundred and ninty. 

William footcher fon of William and Mary footcher was borne the 
Tenth day of the Twelvth Called ffebuary one Thoufand fix hundred 
feaventy four, five. 

Sarah footcher daughter of William and Mary footcher was borne 
the thurteenth day of the fecond Moneth Called April one Thoufand 
fix hundred feaventy feaven. 

Elizabeth footcher daughter of william and Mary footcher was 
borne the Eight day of the Tweh'th Moneth Called febuary one 
Thoufand fix hundred Eighty one, Two. 

Richard footcher fon of william and Mary footcher was borne the 
firft day of the forth^Moneth Called June one Thoufand fix hundred 
Eighty four. 

John footcher fon of william and Mary footcher was borne the firft 
day of the fecond Moneth Called April one Thoufand fix hundred 
Eighty fea-\'en. 

Henry footcher fon of william and Mary footcher was borne the 
Thurty firft day of the Eight Moneth Called October one Thoufand fix 
hundred eighty nine. 

Aminadab Hanser the fon of Aminadab and Rofe Hanser was 
born the Twenty thurd day of the Eleaventh Moneth Called Jana- 
wary one Thoufand fix hundred Eighty eight, nine. 

Copie of Sarah Smitlis Letters of Administracon on Hen Smiths Est. 

Whereas Sarah Smith of the County of Suffe:x etc. * * * wid- 
dow the day of the date here of appeared Before me william Clark 
deputy Regifter etc. * * * defiering to take out Letters of Ad- 
miniftracon of the Eftate of Henry Smith * * * deceafed Huf- 
band * *_ * j doe therefore * * * Grant Letters of Ad- 
miniftracon unto the Said Sarah Smith etc. * * * Given * * * 
at Lewis the fifteenth day of the feaventh Moneth Called September 
in the year of our Lord etc. one Thoufand fix hundred and ninty. 

Samuell Prefton Letter of Adminiftr on Georg Davids Eftate. 

Whereas Samuell Prefton of the County of Suffex etc. * * * 
Appeared before me William Clark deputy Regifter etc. * * * 
defiering as Princable Craditer to take out Letters of Adminiftracon 
of the Eftate of Georg Davids * * * deceafed * * * j .jge 
therefore etc. * * * Grant Letters of Adminiftracon unto the 
faid Samuell Prefton of all the Eftate * * * Given * * * 
at Lewis the Twentieth day of the feaventh Moneth Called September 
in the year of our Lord etc. one Thoufand fix hundred and ninty. 



COURT RECORDS. 147 

Copie Letters of Adminiftracon on John Bellamy Eftate. 

The Court of the County of Suffex etc. * * * haveing ordered 
me William Clark deputy Regifter etc. * * * to Grant Letters 
of Adminiftracon unto Luke Wattfon Senr, Thomas Price Senr, and 
Luke wattfon Junr of the Eftate etc. * * * That John Bellamy 

* * * dyed poffeffed of * * * I doe therefore * * * 
Grant Letters of Adminiftracon unto them * * * Given * * * 
at Lewis * * * the Tenth day of the Tenth Month Called de- 
cember in the year of our Lord etc. * * * one Thoufand fix 
hundred and nintye. Wm: Clark deputy Regifter. 

Copie of Rebecka Draper &c and Henry Molifton Letter of Adminif- 
tracon on Alex. Drapers Estate. 

The three and Twentieth day of the firft Moneth Called March 
Anno: Dm 1691 * * * Then Came Rebecka Draper and Henry 
Moulfton Before me william Clark deputy Regifter etc. * * * 
And brought the Last will and Teftament of Alexander Draper Late 
of the aforesaid County of Suffex deceased, and before me made proof 
of the same; * * * j (jug therefore * * .* Grant Letters 
of Adminiftracon unto the faid Rebecka Draper and Henry Moulfon 
of .all the Eftate * * * In wittness where of * * * at Lewis 
the day and year ffirft above written. 

Test. Wm: Clark dept Regfter. 

Copie of Letters of Adminiftracon on ffrancis Cornwell Estate. 

Whereas Mary Cornwell of the County of Suffex etc. * * * 
widdow * * * Appeared before me William Clark deputy 
Regifter etc. * * * defiering to take out Letters of Adminiftracon 
of the Eftate that her deceased Hufband ffrancis Cornwell * * * 
dye4 poffeffed of * * * I doe Therefore * * * Grant 
Letters of Adminiftracon unto the faid Mary Cornwell of all the 
Eftate * * *. Gi^'en under my hand and feal at my office the 
Twelvth day of the ninth Moneth Called november in the year of 
our Lord etc. one Thoufand fix hundred nintye one. 

Wm: Clark 
deputy Regifter of Suffex & Kent. 

Copie of Letters of Adminiftr on Ifaac Bowde Eftate. 

Whereas Jane Scott of Lewes in the County of Sussex etc. * * * 
(jifj * * * Appeare before me William Clark deputy Regifter 

* * * defiering to take out Letter of Adminiftracon upon the 
Eftate of her former Hufband Ifaac Bowde * * * deceafed 

* * * I doe therefore * * * Grant Letters of Adminiftracon 
unto the faid Jane Scott of all the Eftate etc. * * * Given 

* * * at Lewes * * * The fixt day of the feaventh Moneth 
in the year of our Lord * * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye 
and Two, * * *. Wm: Clark, dept Reges. 

Copie of Jopeth Booth Marriage. 

Suffex County etc. * * * The Twenty Eight day of November 
1690; Thefe may Certifie whom it may Concerne etc. * * * 



148 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Jofeph Booth did * * * take ffrancis Spencer to be his Lawfull 
■^^rjfg * * * Joseph Booth [fealed] 

FFRANCIS Booth [fealed] 

John Hill, Juftice; Henry Bowman, Henry Molefton, Thomas 
Tilton, William Emmatt, Art A Johnfon Ver Kirk, The mark of 
Robert R Twelley, The mark of John + Draper, The mark of Wm X 
Collins, Mary Bowman, Margrett her M mark Molefton, Mathew his 
M mark ofbome, Grace her G mark Johnfon ver Kirk, Chatrine her 
X mark Draper. 

Thomas Branfcomb will, June joth, i6gj. 

* * * I Thomas Branfcomb * * * haveing a voyage to 
take in hand to Barbados it being my Care to fett my Buffnes in order 
in Cafe of Mortality, make this my Last will & Testament * * * 

Item. — I give and bequeath unto Sarah Branfcomb my well be- 
loved daughter * * * plantacon which I bought of Stephen 
whetman * * *. 

Item. — I give and bequeath unto william ffootcher my fon in Law 
an Ifland * * * purchefed of John Johnfon negor by my pra- 
defeffor william footcher deceafed * * * 

Item. — I give and bequeath unto my Two fons in Law Richard 
footcher and John footcher ech of them a gun etc. * * *. 

And as for all the reft of my worldly Eftate etc. * * * i (Joe 
give and bequeath unto Mary Branscomb my well beloved wife 

* * *. Thomas Branscomb [fealed] 

figned fealed and delivered in the prefents of us 
Charles his X mark Johnson 
Robert his X marke walker 
Thomas Besent. 

The 9th day of the Tenth Month 1693 then Thomas Befent .and 
Charles Johnfon Cam before me and Attefted the above writing to 
be the Laft will and Teftament of Thomas Branfcomb deceased. 

Wm: Clark. 

Mary Branfcomb Letter of Aminiftracon. 

The ninth day of the Tenth Moneth Called December in the year 
of our Lord etc. * * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye three, 

* * * Came Mary Branfcomb of the County of Suff ex etc. * * * 
and brought the Last will and Testament of Thomas Branfcomb etc. 

* * * and before me made proofe of the fame by the Teftimony 
of Thomas Befent and Charles Johnfon * * * i (joe therefore 
etc. * =N * Grant Letters of Adminiftracon unto the faid Mary 
Branfcomb of all the Eftate * * * Jn -wittness whereof I have 
hereunto fett my hand and feal at Lewes etc. 

Wm: Clark, dept Regifter. 

Com Sufsex, fs., on Dellaware. Whereas Banns of Matrimony 
etc. * * * By and Between Georg Ely late of Hopewell in the 
County of Burlington Batchelr And Jane Pettitt late of the same 
place Spinstr. Thefe are Therefore To Certifie That The Said Mar- 
iage Was Solemnly Confummated According to Law at the Houfe of 



COURT RECORDS. 149 

Mr. Jonathan Baily uncle of The Said Jane At The Town of Lewis 
in the County of Sufsex etc. * * * on The One and Twentieth Day 
of Augst Ano Domo 1705 In the psence of mee Philip Rufsell one 
of Her Majties Juftices of the Peace * * *_ 

Parties: George Ely 
Jean Ely 

Witnefses: Philip Rufsell, Jonathan Baily, Hannah Baily, Mary 
Baily, Elias Baily, Thomas Harford, Edward Strecther, Preferved 
Coggeshall, William Coe, Jeremiah Claypoole, Martha Huling, Mary 
Rowland, Sarah Gray, Sarah Branscombe, Nehemiah ffield. 
Registred The 23d Day of August 1705 per mee 

Nehemiah Ffield 
Dpty Regr of the County of Sufsex Aforefd. 

Edward Morgan Will. 

* * * The 11th day of March in the year of our Lord one 
Thoufand fix hundred ninty & three the Laft will and Teftament 
of Edward Morgonie * * *; fecondly. — I doe give and bequeath 
to my Childe in Maryland * * *; Thirdly. — I doe give and be- 
queath to Mary Wattfon * * * ; forthly I do give etc to Thomas 
Price Junr etc. ; * * *. fiftly I doe give etc * * * to 
William Staplton etc. ; * * * fixtly I doe gi\'e etc. * * * 
Messrs Bowman etc. * * * ; feaventhly I doe give etc. * * * 
Wattfon * * * ; Eightly I doe hereby Constitute and Appoint 
my ffriende Luke Wattfon Junr to be whole and fole executor of all 
my Estate * * * ; Ninthly that after all my debts and Leagifis 
are paid etc. * * * that then the over plufe or remainer of my 
faid Estate I doe give etc. * * * unto my faid Executor Luke 
Wattfon Junr; Tenthly I doe hereby Revoke difanole and make 
void all former wills etc. * * *. 

the mark of X Edward Morgon [fealed] 
Signed fealed & delivered in the prefence of us : 

Teftis Charles Haynes 

SusANAH her S mark Davids 

Copie of the probitt of Edward Morgon will. 

The five and Twentieth day of the Eight Moneth Called October 

* * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye three * * * Ex- 
ecutor & Teftis appeared before me William Clark deputy Regifter 

* * * Given * * * at Lewis. 

Copie William Swetmans will. 

* * * fixteenth day of feptember Anno: Dm: 1693 * * *. 
Item. — I give etc. * * * to wife Jean Sweatman all & fingular 
my Eftate perfonall & Reall * * * wife sole Executrix 

William Sweatman [fealed] 
Witnesses : — 

Edward Gould 

Henry Strecther 
[■- James Peterkin 



ISO SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Copie the probitt of William Swetmans will. 

The three and Twentieth day of the Eight Moneth Called October 

* * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye three; Executrix & 
witnesses appeared before me * * * at Lewis. 

Wm. Clark, dept Regifter. 

Copie of Rich Patte will. 

The Laft will and Teftament of Richard Patte son of John Patte 
the Land * * * when Mr Clark is fatiffied * * * daughter 
Lidey one heffer * * * j-ggt of Cattle Equilly between my three 
gurls when daughter Ann Cometh to Age And my wife to Injoye 
if fhe doth not marry May 17th 1693. Names mentioned: Miney 
debter, William Woolfe, Timothy dongon, John oakey, Alburt Jacobs. 
Proved by the Teftamony of John & Elloner Tuxbury llth9mo: 1693. 

The nth day of the ninth Moneth 1693 * * * Came John 
Patte of the County of Suffex etc * * * and brought will of 
Richard Patte * * * prooved by Teftimony of John Tuxbury 
and Elloner his wife * * *. Letters of Administration granted 
unto said John Patte. Wm : Clark, deputy Regifter. 

Copie of Jane Hodgkins will. 

* * * I Jane Hodskins of Lewis * * * to daughter 
Rebeckah Williams * * * Cloathes etc.; son Cornelius Wilt- 
banck six fhillings * * *. Refidue to tons Abraham and Ifaac 
Wiltbanck. * * * John Hill * * * sole exector * * * 
Husband Hermanis Wiltbanck deceafed * * *^ Date Twenty 
third day of december 1693. 

figned fealed & deli^'ered in the prefence of 
John his X marke Pyb, 
Nathll Starr, 
Nehemiah field. 

Thomas and hlercy Willfon their Certificate of Marriage. 

Suffex County etc * * * the Tenth day of febery 1694-5. 
Thefe may Certifie etc * * * That * * * Thomas Willfon 
Did * * * Take Mercy Milliner to bee his Lawfull wife ect. * * *. 

Thomas Willson [Seal] 
Mercy Willson [Seal] 

Jofeph Booth, William fifisher, Jofeph Hickman, Jenkin Smith, 
hendrick o Saverus or Varerus, Thomas Price, James his X mark 
Carpenter, Thomas I fSeming, John V Jones, John Bowman, John 
Milliner, Rebeckah x Draper, ffrancis X Hickman. 

Copie of Nights Howards will. 

* * * I Knights Haward of Suffex County etc. * * * 
bequeath unto Luke Wattfon Junr * * * plantacon Lying 
and being in the great Kill * * * Bargaine with William Davids 

* * * debt due from William Dyer * * * also from John 
Mahon * * *. Item. — I give unto Elizabest Wattfon fister of 



COURT RECORDS. 151 

the faid Luke Wattfon Junr * * *. Luke Wattfon appointed 
Executor * * *, Item. — make over * * * Lands * * * 
sold to John Hill * * *_ Item. — make over unto Capt. Thomas 
Pemberton all * * * Land that I fold unto him * * *_ 
DatedJ * * * this fecond day of Janawary Anno : Dm : 1693. 

the marke of Knights X Haward. 
sealed figned and delivered in the pretence of: 

Nath Starr 

William Emmatt 

John his IP marke pey 

The prohitt of nights Howards will. 

The Eighteenth day of the Eleaventh Moneth Called Janawary etc. 

* * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye three etc. * * * then 
Came Luke wattfon Junr * * * ^nd brought said will * * *_ 
prooved by the Testamony of William Emmatt John Pey and Nathan- 
iel Starr * * *. Letters of Administracon granted to said Ex- 
ecutor. Wm. Clark dept regifter. 

Copie of Baptis Newcombs will. 

* * * 13th Sept 1693 * * * I Baptis Newcomb of Suffex 
County etc. * * * friends John Hill and William Piles with my 
wife to be my Lg,wfull executors * * * unto my wife all my 
moveable Eftate * * * unto my three tons; William and Baptis 
and David this tract of Land whereon I live Called by the name of 
Whit oak neck * * * to John Hagifter a Certain point of Land 

* * * Adjoyning * * * Line of William Piles * * * also 
land to son Daniel. Baptis Newcomb [fealed] 

figned fealed & delivered in the pretence of us: 
Barnes Garret 
Mark his X mark Mitchell. 

Copie of the probilt of Baptis Newcomb will. 

The Twenty fecond day of the Eleaventh Moneth Called Janawary 

* * * one Thoufand fix hundred nintye three * * * Then 
Came Ann Newcomb one of the executrix * * * Qf j^gp deceafed 
Hufband * * * John Hill and William Piles * * * re- 
voked there executorfhip Leaving it wholly to the faid Ann New- 
comb * * * Letters granted to the said Ann * * * Given 

* * * at Lewes. * * * Wm: Clark, dept. Regifter. 

Copie of Elizabeth Roades widdow will. 

* * * Twenty fix day of febuary Anno: Dm 1694-3 I Ehza- 
beth Roades widdow etc. * * * Item firft. — I give etc. * * * i 
unto daughter Matha TuU * * * my Grandfon John Tull 

* * * unto daughter Mary Morgon * * * unto Rachel wife ,. 
of Charles fofit my beloved grandaughter * * * unto Sarah f- 
Branfcomb daughter of Thoma^ & Elizabeth Branfcomb both de- , ' 
ceafed * * * EHzabeth Roades & Ration Roads my gran- 
daughters * * * to my grandton John Wells * * * unto 



152 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

my three grand Children Eh'zabeth Roades John Roades & pations 
Roades * * *. ffriends Robert Clifton and Jofeph Allif appointed 
truftees. Elizabeth her E mark Roades [fealed] 

figned fealed & delivered in the prefents of us: 

Tho Midgley, 

Sarah Clifton, 

Tho Besent. 

Copie of the probitt of Elizabeth Roades Will. 
The ninth day of the third Moneth Called May Anno: Dm 1694; 
then Robert Clifton brought the Last will etc. of Elizabeth Roades 

* * * Letters granted to the said Robert Clifton and Jofeph Allif 
of all the Eftate * * * Given * * * at Lewes. 

Wm: Clark, d Regifter. 

Copie of Jofeph Booths Letters of Adminiftr on William Coudrey Eftate. 

Whereas Joseph Booth of the County of Suffex, etc. * * * 

Brother in Law of William Caudmes, Late of the William Covdrey 

* * * appeared & desired to take out Letters of Administracon 
of the Eftate etc, * * * Letters were granted unto the said 
Jofeph Booth * * * Eleaventh day of the fift Moneth Called 
July * * * Qjie Thoufand fix hundred nintye if our. 

Wm: Clark, dept Regifter. 

Copie of Robert Hart Letters of Adminiftracon of his father Eftate. 

Whereas Robert Hart of the County of Suffex fun and heire of 
Robert Hart * * * deceafed * * * appeare * * * (Je- 
fiering to take out Letters of Adminiftracon upon the Eftate * * * 
his mother Jone Hart Contenting there unto * * * Letters ware 
Granted unto the said Robert Hart * * *. Given * * * at 
Lewis the Tenth day of the forth Moneth etc * * * one Thou- 
fand fix hundred Eightye five * * *, [The remainder of the 
letter is torn off.] 

Samuel Gray His Laft Will and Testament. 
I Samuel Gray of Sufsex County etc. * * * 21y. — I will and Be- 
queth This Tract of Land on which I now live * * * To my Wife 
and four Sons, viz, Ifaac and Jonathan, David and Thomas * * * 
after wifes death to be equally divided between the four sons. 3dly. — I 
will etc. * * * unto my two Sons, Samuel and John Gray that Tract 
of Land Called Grayes End * * * Equally divided * * * 
Children mentioned * * * Samuel, John, Elizabeth Rebeckah 
Ifaac and Sarah, Jonathan and David and Thomas * * *_ xhe 
Remaining part of my Eftate my Wife have Dureing her naturall life 
and aftr her Death to bee Equally Divided between my nine Children 
Gerles To have a duble part * * *. Wife Sufannah Gray * * * 
Sole exxcetrix * * * friends Samuel Prefton and Luke Watfon 
Junr, To bee my overfeers * * * 23d of Octobr 1692. 
Sined Sealed & deled in the Prsents of us: Sam Gray [feal] 

Sam: Preston 

Mary Lloyd 

Michaell Chambers 

John his X mark Chambers 

Eles Herington. 



COURT RECORDS. 153 

Inventory of the Eftate of Samuel Gray Deceased. 

As It was Shown unto us the Sworne Appraifers * * * the 
Twenty Sixth Day of December 1694, By Sufanna Gray widow 

* * * Proved allowed and Regiftred * * * on the 5 th day 
of March 1694 * * *. 

Nehemiah Ffield, Depty Regifter. 

Appraised by us: 

Tho: Pemberton 

Thomas Ffisher 
Lewis, The 5th Day of March 1694. 

Copy of the Probate of Samuel Grey Deceesed His will. 

WilUam Markham Esqr Leuit. Governor of the Province of Penn- 
silvania etc. * * * His Excell Benjamine flietcher Capt. Genl: 
and Governor in cheife of Their Majesties province of New York 
etc. * * * [Names mentioned in the above Probate]. Given 

* * * this Eleventh Day of December Ano q Domini: 1694. 

Signed Pr Order 

Nehemiah Ffield. 

Jane Bembrick Letters of Adininiftr on her Hufband Eftate. 

Whereas Jane Bembrick of the County of Suffex etc. * * * 
defiering to take out Letters etc. * * * Late Hufband Edward 
Bembrick * * * Given * * * at Lewis * * * The 
Seaventeenth day of the fift Moneth Called July * * * one 
Thoufand fix hundred Nintye four * * *. 

Wm. Clark, depty Regifter. 

Will of Roger ffretwell Deceesed. 

Dorothea ffretwell widow and Relicte of Ralph ffretwell and 
Mother and Administratrix of Roger ffretwell of Barbadoes Merchtt. 

* * * John Edmondfon of Talbot County * * * Merchtt 
Attoumey * * * chosen Administrator of said eftate by the 
mother of deceesed * * * Inventorie of all and Singular The 
Goods Chattells and Creditts of the Said Deceesed, and exhibiting 
the Same into ye Secretaries office at Lewis * * * at or before 
The Twenty Eigh Day of June next Enfueing which will bee in ye 
year 1695 Rendering a full & True Accompt * * * on The Twenty 
Eigth Day of December next Enfueing The above Date * * * 
Appointed on the Twenty Eigth Day of Decembr * * * Ano 
q Domini 1694. 

Signed & Sealed Pr Order Nehemiah Ffield. 

Letter of Attoumey sent to Barbados Island notifying that all 
just debts etc. be paid to John Edmonton etc Dated 18th Day of the 
Second Month Called Aprill 1689. Dorothea Ffretwell. 

Witnef ses : 

Anthon Lynch 
Samuell Hockaday 



154 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

(Written on back of said Letter) . 
Know all men etc. * * * That I the within Named John 
Edmondfon etc * * * appoint * * * Samuel Prefton and 
Thomas ffifher * * * to collect a debt from Henry Bowman for 
said Dorothea ffretwell * * *. 
December 28, 1694. 
Witnef ses : 

James Edmondson 
Richard his R marke Dawson 
Attested before us the 3th mo, 1694. Tho. Pemberton 

Thomas Oldman 

* * * To Sarah Paynter "Widow and Relicte of Richard Paynter 
late of the Towne of Lewis etc. * * * Died Inteftate * * * 
wife given power of administration * * * fourth Day of March 

* * * Ano q Dom. 1694. 

Signed & Sealed Pr Order Nehemiah Ffield. 

To all To whom These Prsents etc. That on The ffifth Day of 

.December 1694 The Nuncupative Laft Will etc. * * * of 

Charles Spooner Deceesed was in Open Court Proved Approved etc. 

* * * Letters of Adminiftration granted to widow Sufanna 
Spooner * * * the ninth Day of March * * * Ano q Dom 
1694. 

Signed etc. Nehemiah Ffield. 

Witnefsed by Barnes Garrett and Anthony Haverley that all 
property etc. was left to widow. Annto Kerle? , 

Barrant Yerris. 
Nehemiah Ffield Clerk. 

This may Certifie etc. * * * That Peter Rayman of The 
County of Suffex etc. widr and Dina Pawling * * * Spinstr 

* * * were married on the 14th Day of Aprill 1697 At the houfe 
of Mr. John Gibb in The Town of Lewis * * *. 

Peter Rayman 

Dina her X mark Rayman 

Witnesses: — Tho: Oldman Juftice, Simon his S mark Pawling, 
letebt [?] pocleut [?], Henry his X mark Strecther, James Peterkin, 
William Adams, William Clampitt, James Seattoon, Thomas Peterkin, 
John Croutch, James Walker, James Simpson, Thomas Maccandlis, 
Nehemiah ffield, Marie Gibb, Margarett M Simson, Jane her X mark 
Peterkin. 

* * * This May Certifie That Major Edmund Howell of Cape 
May In West Jersey widower And Katharine Barwick late of Mary 
Land widow Did on The Twenty ninth Day of June Ano Domi. 1696 
At the Towne of Lewis etc * * * Mutually Take Each other 
as Hufband and wife etc. * * * 

Edmund Howell 

Katharine her K mark Howell 

Consummated & Signed In The prsence of us: — Robert Clifton, 
Justice; Samuell Crowell, Henry Strecther, Thomas Clifton, Mongo 



COURT RECORDS. 155 

Clifford, William Dyre, John Croutche, John Paynter, Richard Craf- 
ford, William Orr, Nehemiah ffield, John Baron, Sufanna her SC 
mark Crowell, Marie Gibb, Mary Wolfenden. 

* * * To Mary H Richards Widow etc * * * of John 
Richards of Suffex County etc. * * * Died Inteftate * * * 
Letters of Administration granted to widow * * * Given 

* * * at Lewis On the Ninth Day of March * * * Anoq 
Domi 1694. 

Signed etc. Nehemiah Ffield. 

* * * att An Orphans Court Held * * * att Lewis for 
the County of Suffex etc. * * * On the ffifth Day of March 
1694 The Nuncupative Laft will etc. * * * of Thomas Moalfon 
Deceesed * * * was Proved etc. * * * Letters etc. 

* * * Granted unto Mary Richards widow of John Richards 
ffather in law to the sd Thomas Moalfon both Deceesed * * * 
Given * * * this Ninth day of March * * * Anoq Domi. 
1694. 

Signed etc. Nehemiah Ffield. 

* * * Bryant Rowles and Thomas Coverdale Both of This 
County Being Present with Thomas Moalfon a little before his Death 

* * * Plantr * * * witnesses of the above will * * * 
Land given William Da\'ies * * * situated upon the Broad 
Kill * * * Land * * * unto William Richards Son of John 
Richards * * * Cow unto Sarah Clarke * * * Barnes Gar- 
rett & Anthony Haverly Junr beneficiaries * * * debts due 
from John Putteet & John Hill. 

Briant his B R mark Rowles 
Thomas his To Coverdale 
Nehemiah Ffield Clerk. 

* * * To Jane Jones Widow etc. * * * of John Jones 
of Suffex County etc. * * * Plantr Deceesed * * * Died 
Intestate * * * wife made Administratrix * * * Letters 
granted * * * at Lewis on the ffourth Day of May * * * 
Anoq Dom. 1695. 

Signed etc. Nehemiah Ffield. 

* * * Know yee That Before Luke Wattfon Senr and Joseph 
Booth Esqrs. * * * Juftices of the Peace for the County of 
Suffex ■ etc. * * * The Laft Will etc. * * * of Thomas 
Price Deceesed * * * was proved etc. * * * on the Twenty 
ffifth Day of March 1695 * * * Letters granted unto his son 
Thomas Price Sole Executor. * * * This Twenty Sixth Day of 
Aprill * * * Annoq Domi. 1695. 

Signed etc. Nehemiah Ffield. 

Thcnnas Price Senior his Laft Will and Teftament. 

* * * 14th Day 1694-5 March. The Laft will etc. of Thomas 
Price Senior of Slater neck In the'County of Suffex Planter * * * 

Item. — to son Thomas Price my Plantation in Slater neck. 

Item. — My well beloved wife Liveing with my son Thomas Price 

* * * he to take care of his mothers Chattells etc. 



156 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Item. — * * * unto William Price my Granfon one Cow etc. 

Item. — * * * unto Catheren Price m.y Grandaughter one 
HefEeretc. * * * 

Item. — * * * unto Ian Price my Gran Daughter one black Cow 

etc •!■ -r "F 

Item. — * * * unto Rachell Price my Grandaughter one 

* * * heffer etc. * * * 

Item. — * * * unto wife Catheren Price all my Cattell * * * 
houfehold goods that Remains after my Debts and legyfes be Paid 

* * * after her Defef to be equally divided between Gran Children. 
Item. — * * * Appoint my Son Thomas Price to be my Sole 

executor. Thomas his T marke Price [Seal] 

Thomas Phelmon 

The R marke of Jeremiha barthelmy 

William Ffisher 

Will sworn to by the two witnefses the 2Sth of March 1695 before 
Luke Wattfon Senr and Joseph Booth, Juftices of the Peace. 

Joseph Booth 
Luke Wattson 

An Inventory of the Eftate of William Cowthry of Suffex'County 
etc. * * * Deceesed * * * Shown unto us The Appraifers 
subnamed upon the Sth Day of September and 7th Day of December 
1694, By Joseph Booth who att a Court Held att Lewis * * * On 
the Sixth Day of June 1694 was appointed Adminiftrator of the Same. 
Appraifed by 

Tho: Pemberton 
Thomas Ffisher 

Sworn to by the above named appraisers before Nehemiah ffield 
Depty Regifter. 




ST. PETERS CHURCH. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 157 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 



A small village near Deal in England, called Sutton, had an 
ancient church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The 
church was partly destroyed by an earthquake, April 6th, 
1680. 

It is possible that the town of New Deal may have had 
some people who were from Sutton, and as the destruction 
of Sutton parish church occurred about the time Sir Edmond 
Andross set apart the four acres, which were fenced in by St. 
Peter's Congregation before 1689, people from Sutton may 
have chosen the name St. Peter's to perpetuate the name of 
the church of their early affiliation. The Church burying 
ground was called the Public Burying Ground. An attempt 
was made to establish a Common Burying Ground. 

This is the first record about the Church of England in 
Sussex County. 

The land, the four acres fenced in at the above date is 
what is now St. Peter's churchyard, the church having been 
at the eastern corner at first. The present building is about 
in the centre of the yard and is the third building. 

From 1689 to 170| we have no records of what the church 
people of Lewes were doing. 

[Kent Co.] Sup. Delaware 
We whose names are hereunto subscribed being Deeply sensible 
of the want of a Minister of God's Holy word and sacriments among 
us and the Duty incumbent on us to pay or cause to be payed to 
such Missionery as the Hon. So. for propagating the Gospell in foreign 
parts, shall be pleased to send to us Yearly and every year the severall 
sums annexed to our Respective Names, all which with the greatest 
sincerity of Heart we do humbly and freely offer to the service of 
Almighty God, and for the promotion of the Christian Religion in 
these parts. As Wittness our hands this 20 day of Feb. A. D. 1725. 

John Parradee, John Bishop, John Greentree, 

Henery MoUeston, Wm Parvis, Mark Borden, 

John Tilton, Samuel Brady, William Morgan, 

John Clayton, robert Howard, Hugh Durborow, 

Steven Parradee, William Hix, John Wells, 

John Register, Samuel Nichols, Richard Hill, 

Thos. Wells, Jr., Thos. Dixon, John Newel, 



158 



SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 



Evan Jones, 
Alexander Ponder, 
Thos. Green, 
George 'Hargrove, 
Thos. Tarrant, 
John Taylor, 
Henry Shaw, 
John Endsor, 
Isaac ffreland, 
Obadiah Voshall, 
Philip Brady, 
Thos. Slawtor, 
Martin Turner, 
Robert Wood, 
John Tucker, 



John £fisher, 
George Green, 
William Newel, 
Ceasar Rodney, 
Charles Hilliard, 
George Nowel, 
Samuel Berry, 
Danl. Rodney, 
Thos. Parke, 
Timothy Oharon, 
Edward Jennings, 
ffrans. Alexander, 
Thos. Wells, 
John Pleasonton, 
George Medcalf, 



William Walton, 
Samuel Hirons, 
Nichs. Lookerman, 
Michael Lober, 
John Reynals, 
Ezekiel Tomson, 
Adam Latham, 
John Evans, 
Thomas Evans, 
William Rodeney, 
Richard Levick, 
James Tryal, 
Thos. Courtney, 
Joseph Nickerson, 
George Robison, 
of Kent County on 



Certified Communicants In St. John's Parish 
Delaware. 

This Indenture, made this Nineteenth day of November in the 
Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty, between 
George R. Fisher, John Ponder and Nehemiah D. Welch, surviving 
Trustees of St. Matthew's Church, Cedar Creek Hundred in the County 
of Sussex, of the one part, and John Ingram of the same Hundred and 
County aforesaid, of the other part, Witnesseth, That the said George 
R. Fisher, John Ponder and Nehemiah D. Welch, surviving Trustees 
as aforesaid, for and in consideration of the Yearly Rents and Cove- 
nants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part and behalf of 
the said John Ingram, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, 
to be paid, kept and performed, have demised, set, and to farm let, 
and by these presents do demise, set, and to farm let, unto the said 
John Ingram his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all that 
Messuage and Lot of Ground, situate, lying and being in the Hundred 
and County aforesaid, and commonly known as the Yard and Grounds 
of St. Matthew's Church, Cedar Creek, being the same piece and parcel 
of Land conveyed by David Thornton and Wife to the Trustees of 
said Church, by Deed made the Twenty Eight day of October in the 
Year A. D. Seventeen Hundred and Eighty Eight, 1788, and recorded 
in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Sussex County, in 
Libro B. No. 2, Folio 390, as by reference thereunto will fully and 
plainly appear, and containing Two Acres and Five and One Half 
Perches, be the same more or less, to have and to hold the said Lot 
or parcel of Ground, and all and singular the premises hereby demised, 
with the appurtenances, to the said John Ingram, his Executors, Ad- 
ministrators and assigns, for and during the full end and term of Thirty 
Three Years from and beginning at the First day of May in the Year 
of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Eight, 1858, 
yielding and paying for the same unto the said George R. Fisher, 
John Ponder and Nehemiah D. Welch, Trustees as aforesaid, their 
Successors, Survivors, and Survivor, his Heirs and Assigns, the Yearly 
Rent or Sum of Two Dollars Lawful money each and every Year, 
the first of which to be paid on the first day of January next ensu- 
ing the date hereof, and on the First day of January each and every 
year hereafter during the Term aforesaid. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 159 

Provided, that the said John Ingram, shall not, either himself or his 
Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, they or either of them, erect or 
build, or cause or permit to be erected or built, on the ground or prem- 
ises herein demised, or on any part of the same, any House, Tenement, 
Bam, Stable, Shop, Crib, Granary, Fold, Pen or Enclosure, or Shed 
for Cattle or other animals. Excepting, nevertheless, That the said 
John Ingram, may retain and use the Building at present standing 
on the aforesaid Lot, namely the Old Church, purchased by George 
S. Davis in the Year A. D. Eighteen Hundred and Fifty Eight of 
the said Trustees, and may repair and conserve the same to and for 
his own use, for the full Term of Years before mentioned. And also 
provided, that he, the said John Ingram, his Executors and Adminis- 
trators and Assigns, they or either of them, shall not plow, till, dig, 
scrape or, remove any earth, or break the soil, of such part or portion 
of said lot as has been occupied for a burial ground, but the same 
shall remain undisturbed and unbroken. 

And the said John Ingram, for himself, his Heirs, Executors, Ad- 
ministrators and Assigns, doth covenant, promise, and agree to and 
with the said George R. Fisher, John Ponder, Kehemiah D. Welch, 
Trustees as aforesaid, their Successors, Survivors and Survivor, his 
Heirs and Assigns, that he the said John Ingram, his Executors, Ad- 
ministrators, 'and Assigns, shall pay or cause to be paid to the said 
Trustees, their Successors, Survivors, and Survivor, his Heirs and 
Assigns, that he the said John Ingram, his Executors, Administrators, 
and Assigns, shall pay or cause to be paid to the said Trustees, their 
Successors, Survivors, and Survivor, his Heirs and Assigns, the said 
Yearly Rent of Two Dollars lawful money, hereby reserved, on the 
several days and times hereinbefore mentioned, for the payment 
thereof, according to the true intent and meaning of these presents. 

And the said George R. Fisher, John Ponder, and Nehemiah D. 
Welch, Trustees as aforesaid, for themselves, their Successors, Sur- 
vivors and Survivor, his Heirs and Assigns, do covenant, promise, 
grant and agree to the said John Ingram, his Executors, Adminis- 
trators and Assigns, paying the rents and performing the Covenants 
aforesaid, that he the said John Ingram, his Executors, Administrators 
and Assigns, shall and lawfully may, peaceably and quietly, under 
the limitations and provisions herebefore mentioned, have, hold, 
use, occupy, possess, and enjoy the said demised premises, during 
the term aforesaid, from the day and date aforesaid, without the 
lawful let, suit, trouble, eviction, molestation or interruption, of the 
said Trustees, their Successors, Survivors or Survivor, his Heirs or 
Assigns, or any other person by or under them. 

In witness whereof the said Parties have herevmto set their Hands 
and Seals this Nineteenth day of November in the Year of Our Lord 
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty. 

Signed, Sealed, and ] George R. Fisher. [seal]. 

Delivered in the 
presence of us 

RoBT. C. Hall. 
A. H. Terry. 



Jno. Ponder. 


[seal] 


Nehemiah D. Welch. 


[seal] 


his 




John Ingram. 


[seal] 


mark 





160 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

State of Delaware, Sussex County S5. Be it remembered that on 
this Nineteenth day of November A. D. 1860, personally came before 
me, Nehemiah D. Welch, a Notary Public of the State of Delaware, 
George R. Fisher, John Ponder and John Ingram, and acknowledged 
the above Indenture to be their act and deed, (they being parties to 
the same and known to me personally to be such), and I, Nehemiah 
D. "Welch do hereby acknowledge said Indenture to be my act and 
deed. 

Given under my hand and Official Seal the day and Year aforesaid. 

Nehemiah D. Welch, N. P. 

State of Delaware, | _ 
■ Sussex County, ) 

In Testimony that this lease was lodged in the Recorder's Office 
in and for said County on the twentieth day of December A. D. eighteen 
hundred and sixty and stands recorded in Book No. 67, Folios 

313 and 14, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said 
office at Georgetown in the County aforesaid, the day and year afore- 

^^'*^- William Davis, Recorder. 

Beginning at a comer marked white oak by the east side of Dra- 
per's old mill pond, and running from thence N. 62 E. 31 perches to 
a stake in the field S. E. of said Church. Thence N. 28 West, lOK 
perches to a stake on the N. E. side of said Church. Then S. 62 West 
31 perches to a stake on the Hill near the said Pond. Thence South 
28 East 10^ Perches, home to the first Beginning Comer, White 
oak. Surveyed and divided off for two acres and five and a half 
Square perches of land, on the 10th day of April 1770, by Caleb Cir- 
within. Together with a Church house thereon, etc. 

David Thornton and Ehshe Thornton his Wife to Nehemiah Davis, 
Thomas Evans, Isaac Beauchamp, George Watson, Jacob Townsend, 
Bethnel Watson, and Mark Davis, Vestry. 

Deed dated, 1788. 

Docket No. 2, 1785. Page 390. 



Inscriptions on Stones in Churchyard of St. Matthew's 
Chapel, Cedar Creek Hundred. 

In memory of Reynear Williams, who departed this life 
April 2nd, 1773, aged 26 years and 7 months. 

"How loved, how valued once avails him not 
To whom related or by whom begot." 

In memory of Abagail, wife of Sylvester Webb, who de- 
parted this life 17th December, 178S, aged 25 years. 

In memory of Nelly Draper, who departed this life April 
17th, 1790, aged 14 years. 

All other tombstones are removed or destroyed. 



ecclesiastical records. 161 

Extracts from Journals of Society for the 
Propagation of the Gospel. 

Sir Edmond Andres had ordered four acres of land to be 
set apart, in the centre of Lewes, for some pubHc use. 
Previous to June, 1681, the Congregation of St. Peter's had 
fenced in this land and petitioned Governor Andross for it. 

In 1689 a portion of this land was taken to build a Court 
House on. This Court House was used for services, pro- 
vided the weather was not too cold, until the first church 
was built after the arrival of the Rev. William Becket. 

17th Novr., 1704. — The Lord Bishop of London moved 
the Society in the Behalf of Mr. Crawford formerly appointed 
by ye Society a Missy, to Dover Hunder'd in Pensylvania: 

Agreed that his case be refer'd to the Committee, and if 
they be Satisfyed he is an Object of the Society's Charity 
that he be forthwth sent over to the sd Place with the Usual 
Allowance. 

15th Decr., 1704. — The Report of the Comtee. abt. sending 
back Mr. Crawford to the Place to which he was appointed & 
upon his first Establishmt was read & Agrd to by Socy. 

Ordd that the 2nd half years allowance be advanc'd to the 
sd Mr. Crawford. 

2nd March, 1705. — Agreed to give Mr. Crawford a large 
Com'on Prayer Book & a Book of Homilies, pursuant to a 
Motion from the Com'ittee. 

16th March, 1705. — The Case of Mr. Crawford being repre- 
sented to the Society from the Com'ittee, and it appearing 
that it has not been his fault that he has been so long de- 
tain'd from his Mission, Agreed that a 5th part of his second 
years Salary be advanced to the said Mr. Crawford, the^better 
to enable him to pform his said Mission. 

Copies of Letters from Mr. Thomas Crawford. 

Mr. Crawford to the Secretary. 
Hoxor'd Sir, 

Not only your Station in the Society, but your Civility & Obliga- 
tions conferr'd upon me, lays a tye on me to give you an Account of 
my circumstances from time to time as occasion offers. 

Sir, after a long Fatigue at Sea I arrived here on the 24th. Instant, 
& waited on the Governor, who give me a very kind reception, & 
the Reverend Mr. Evans sustain'd me (as also my two Brothers along 
with me) with all Civility, for whom I preached on Sunday the 26 day, 
whose Congregation is numerous & still increasing. As for Kent 
County to which I go I can give no account of it (not having yet got 



162 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

there). But when I have certain knowledge of the place as oppor- 
tunity offers I will write my circumstances & condition of the Congre- 
gation there. I know I shall not want Difficulties in the place, but not 
what I fear, but what I meet with, you shall have in the next. The 
ship is now fallen down the River, & the Captain is now going so that 
I have no time to add to this; or yet to pay my Respects to more of 
the Right Honble & Reverend Society, whose Comands shall still 
be a Law to me. I thought to have written to the Reverend Mr. 
Stubbs, to whom I am much obliged, and to Mr. Keith, to whom 
I hope you will have me excused, & give my service, kindly pardon- 
ing Presumption, and let me be honoured with a Line from your 
hand, with your councel and advice which shall be carefully observed 
by him who gives his humble service unto you, prays for your felicity, 
and rests 

Honoured Sir 

Your most humble Servant 

Tho. Crawford. 
Philadelphia, August 27, 1705. 

The directions are 

To John Chamberlayne, Esqre. &c. 

Mr. Crawford to ye Secretary. 

Sr. — After my coming unto this Province as soon as I had waited 
on ye Govr. I hasted to Dover Hundred ye Cure appointed me; Wch 
is a very sickly place, yea possibly one of the most sickly places in 
these parts of America; wch also I found so, for I had not been there 
but one Sunday, till I was most severely seized by a very high feaver, 
after that an Ague & as ye consequence of these with a Dropsie, & 
short windiness, of which I am not yet freed, & this is not only a 
seasoning to ye country, But fever & Ague does every year seize ye 
Inhabitants of the place. When I was first taken with ye fever I 
was crediby informed that there was not a Family in all the Shire, 
but that either ye whole or a part was sick: I leave it to ye Revd. 
Mr. Talbot to give an account how ill I was taken. Wherefore seeing 
the place is so sickly, & will not agree wth a constitution so weak as 
mine, I humbly desire the Right Honble Society may remove me to 
another place. If thought convenient to ye East side of Karaton 
River to Shrewsbury, or to Hopeswell so there be nothing pro'ded 
for, nor promised to a Minister there, yet the place is more healthy, 
& they want, & by the blessing of God I may do as great good there 
as in ye place I am ordered for, if I be not removed, in ye hot & sickly 
months of Summer I must remove & preach in a place more healthy, 
or then I shall soon be made incapable of doing service to God or his 
Church. This I hope you will take care to be laid before ye Society; 
wch with my humble Respects to your self is all from 

Sr, 
your most humble Servt, 

Tho. Crawford-. 
Burlington, Nov. 7, 170S. 

The directions are 

To Mr. John Chamberlayne, &c. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 163 

j\Ir. Crawford to the Secretary. 

HoND. Sir. — Yours I received dated June 4th, 1707, of Mr. Talbot: 
wherein you desire frequent Letters, this I readily comply with, but 
I live in the country where no ships come, and under a hundred miles 
scarce can have a letter deliver'd or put on Bord of any Vessell and 
then some misgive, and many opportunities slip when I know not 
or cannot wait on them. Next you blame me (or seem to do so) 
because my Vestry wrote home some of their own circumstances, 
it was their own motion to do so, and to deny the people a request 
that is harmless you lose their favour, and again I did readyly comply 
with them because I thought their condition and circumstances 
might be as well received at their own hands as by my pen. Next 
you desire particular accounts from me, according to a Scheme laid 
down by the Society and to all the heads thereof, this I never saw, 
I never received any from any hand ; I only conceive that those par- 
ticulars following may be required, which I shall answer. »!« ' 

As to the number of Inhabitants in the county I know not, I never 
saw their Court Role. 

As to the number of my hearers I sometimes have more sometimes 
have less according to the weather, I preach in the Church and two 
or three places more, the County being above fifty miles long, and 
those that are my hearers one day, not many are the next, and some- 
times I have 30, 40, SO, 70, 100, ISO, and upwards may be 200. A 
great many whereof (I think) have some good Tincture of Religion, 
at least of well meaning; But how many of them are {in omnibus) 
for the Church of England as by Law established there, I know not; 
some of them I know are of a dissenting temper in Government (which 
I do not admire there being at my entry not one man in the County 
that understood the Prayer Book, no not so far as to answer the 
Psalms or other parts of the service till I taught them privately) 
but all are satisfyed wth the Doctrine of the Church, so that they have 
no Grudge on that Account, only when some itinerant Presbyterian 
Preachers come amongst us some make breaches to go hear them, 
for all their sermons with us have been on Work days but many will 
not, so that I have none but a heathenish people called Quakers 
(several thereof are come over) that absent from the Worship of God 
as opportunity offers, other opinions make no debate to hear me, but 
how many Quakers there is I know not, but if we had the Governmt 
established we should have power. 

As for the number of Communicants I have ordinarily above 
twenty or thirty odd, but never forty in one day. 

For the number baptised by me in other places I know not, but in 
my own Charge I have young and old baptised 220 or 230, married 
22 couple these three years of my residence here, our Justices do 
many frequently here because the Law allows. 

As for my order in preaching I preach sometimes twice a week I 
have occasionally thrice, but I never fail four times in three weeks, 
one Sunday in the upper end of the County, another in the Church, 
the third in the lower end, and then a week days Sermon in some 
corner and then the following Sunday in the Church &c. I catechise 
the Children before the sermon all the Summer, cold weather I don't; 
this is as full a true and just account as I can now give of the place 
(this accepted) that many well meaning people want Prayer Books 



164 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

very much, there being none in the County but what I give them, 
nor can we have for money, and indeed many have not money to 
buy with, but of this I'le mind the Trea'r. 

As to the order of the Society, to give an account of those of my 
hearers that have contributed to build churches, in a word, I know 
not any has given one farthing to any but to our own. 

As for their names that subscribe to me, and their sums, I have 
not the catalogue, I have seen it, but the Church Warden has it, only 
I tell you that you have all in that address for a minister to Dover 
Hundred sent to my Ld. of London, which (if I remember) I deliver'd 
to the Society, and several of the best of those are dead, in whose 
place I have this year not before got some small Subscriptions; but 
our Subscriptions in America are larger than our Benefice : but what- 
ever the Subscriptions be, this I can say upon the word of a Minister 
that these three years that I have been in this place, I have not had 
twenty pounds Pensylvania money p. ann; which is but a small 
Benefice, considering it is payd me not in Silver, but as people are 
able in corn, &c. T'is true there is more than ;£50 Pensylvania 
money subscribed, — but I can not have it, some are backward, many 
pretend they are not able the years are so badd, and to use the Law 
for it I never will, for that will frustrate my Mission and the de- 
signs of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, render my person odious to them, 
and so my Ministry and Preaching ineffectual, and I be look't 
upon as an hireling only; severe methods are not to be taken here, 
to gain converts by, so whatever is subscribed is to no advantage to 
me while it is not payd, but what I receive you shall have a yearly 
account. 

As for the Society for reformacon of manners I have done and still 
do encourage it, and indeed at my request it was erected, and first 
by my Vestry whereof one Capt. Rodeny, Justice of Peace, was my 
principal assistant, the methods are most partly taken out of the 
Book of the Society for reformacon of manners wth some few varia- 
tions, however we punished all that offended, but now our Work is 
easie; Our Meetings were once monthly, but now are quarterly, & 
then have little or no business, possibly not one found guilty in that 
time in all the County. 

As for the Negroes I have been at pains, for I sometimes at the 
Church Porch teach 'em the Principles of religion, tho' many are very 
dull; and when I am not employed I catechize the children. 

As for the Society's Instructions I shall be glad to receive them, 
none shall be more observant than I, and for writing often tho' I do, 
I understand my Letters do miscarry; so I hope if my Letters be not 
so frequent as other Missionaries' I shall be excused because I have 
not so good opportunities, and withall I have been sick Spring & Fall, 
not able to go abroad, but yet I understood that some of my Letters 
misgive, as also Letters from the Society (I fear) to me for I have 
not had a Letter these two years, but by Mr. Talbot. Nay my At- 
torneys Letters many of them never came to my hand, as I am in- 
formed by his last. 

I have nothing new to suggest, but that I have nothing to intice 
me to this place, but the Sobriety of the People, this is all my Com- 
fort others I have none, for many of the comforts of life are very 
farr withdrawn from me. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 165 

Sir, I trouble your Patience no more, only I begg your prayers 
on the Church here, & on me in particular that I may be serviceable 
therein, and I pray God to bless you and all those good and noble 
Spirits that are imployed in that Glorious Work of the Propagation 
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God himself strengthen you & incourage 
& bear you up in all difficulties; excuse the length of this from 

Honor' d Sir 
Your assured fr'd and humb' Serv't in 

the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Tho. Crawford. 

1st February, 1706. — A letter from Mr. Crawford to the 
Secretary dated Burlington, 7, November, read. 

28th March, 1706. — Also two others [letters] from Mr. 
Crawford to Mr. Shibo & the Secretary from Burlington, 
7 & 8 Novembr last; — Agreed to move the Society, that the 
said Mr. Crawford may be acquainted, that in case he con- 
tinues to want his health in Dover hundred he shall be 
allow'd to remove to Hopewell or According to the Prayer of 
his said Letter. Agreed to. 

14th February, 1707. — Also that having read a Paper 
from the Inhabitants of Sussex on Delaware River desiring 
a Minister may be sent 'em, and a Letter from Mr. Crawford 
the Minister appointed to Dover Hundred, near the above sd 
place, advising that the said Inhabitants are building a 
Church & want a Minister, they had Agreed to lay the Matter 
before the Society. Agreed that the Committee take care of 
this matter. 

Also that having read two other Letters from the said Mr. 
Crawford (one to Mr. Stubs, t'other to the Secretary) dated 
April & June 1706, containing an Accot. of the said Mr. 
Crawford's Good Success in his Ministry, the poverty of the 
People & want of Com'on Prayer Books; they had Agreed 
to move ye Society that some numbers of Com'on Prayer 
Books be sent to the said Gentleman to be distributed amongst 
his People. Agreed to, & the No. to be ascertain'd by the 
Com'ittee. 

ISth April 1709. — Also that they had read a Letter from 
the Lord Bishop of London to the Secretary dated 20th. 
Jan'ry last, containing a copy of a Letter from Mr. Crawford 
desiring a Pulpit Cloth, Surplice &c. and also an Original 
Letter from the said Mr. Crawford to the Secretary dated 
Kent County in Dover hundred Pensylvania 31st Augt. last 
containing the State of his Church there, the want of Common 
Prayer Books &c. which Letters they Agreed should be laid 



166 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

before the Society: then the said Letters were read; — Re- 
solved that for the incouragement of the said Mr. Crawford 
ten pounds more (to commence from Lady day was twelve 
months) be added to his allowance so long as he stays in his 
present cure, and that it be referr'd to the Committee to send 
him such a number of Common Prayer Books as they think 
necessary, as also a pulpit Cloth and Surplice, the Charge of 
the whole not to exceed £10. 

21st October, 1709. — A Petition from Mrs. Crawford wife 
of Mr. Thomas Crawford the Society's Missionary in Pen- 
syh'ania was read, praying that some part of the allowance 
to the said Mr. Crawford may be paid to her the wife of the 
sd Crawford for her Subsistance till she can go over to her 
Husband: Order'd that the said Petition be refer'd to the 
Committee and that Mr. Lind, Mr. Crawford's Attorny have 
notice to attend at the same time. 

18th November, 1709. — The Secretary reported from the 
Committee that they had considered the petition of Mrs. 
Crawford to them refer'd, and that the said Mrs. Crawford 
had fully made appear to them that she was the lawfull wife 
of Mr. Thomas Crawford the Society's Missionary at Dover 
Hundred in Pensylvania, and that she had not reced more 
than ten pounds from her Husband since he left England, 
which was about five years ago: That Mr. Lind, Attorny to 
the said Mr. Crawford, had also attended them, and being 
askt why he wou'd allow nothing to Mrs. Crawford to sub- 
sist and carry her over to her Husband, made answer, that 
he had no Orders from the Husband, nor any of his Effects in 
his hands, whereupon the Committee had Agreed to report 
the whole ffact as it appear'd to them, for the further Direc- 
tions of the Society in the Matter: Then the Society having 
taken the above report into their consideration, and the Revd. 
Mr. Cook attending was call'd in, and gave the Society a 
farther Accot. of the Circumstances of the said Mrs. Cra^vford: 
Ordered that a stop be put to the Allowance from the Society 
to the said Mr. Crawford, till he give satisfaction to the 
Society about the Premises; and that the Secr'y do en- 
deavour to inform himself from Mr. Evans and otherwise of 
Mr. Crawford's caracter &c. 

30th December, 1709. — Also that they had read a Letter 
from Mr. Thomas Crawford late Missionary at Dover Hun- 
dred, dated London 26th Decembr. 1709, importing his 
desire of some money to put him into a Condition for to ap- 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 167 

pear before the Society, and had thereupon Agreed to lay 
the said Letter before this Bord, and had also directed Mr. 
Middleton to attend on behalf of the Wife of the said Mr. 
Crawford: This matter being considered and the Society 
acquainted that Mr. Lind attended without on behalf of 
Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Middleton on behalf of the wife of the 
said Mr. Crawford, they were called in and acquainted that 
their business is refer'd to the Committee. 

Kent County, Dover Hundred in Pensylvania, 
31st Augt. 1708. 
Sr. — I wou'd begg both your Letters & advice often if it be not 
too much trouble and none shall be more observant. Mr. Black is 
sick of the Ague, but his arrival has removed the charge of that place 
from my shoulders which I undertook willingly for the good of the 
Church. 

Lord Bishop of London to ye Secretary. 

FULHAM, 20 Jany. 1709. 
Sir. — This is a copy of Mr. Crawford's Letter which I begg of you 
to lay before the Society, which seems to claim some charitable con- 
sideration from them. For my new Guest, as you call him, is so old 
an acquaintance, that I can't expect his departure so soon, as your 
good wishes wou'd have it. I am 

Sir, Your most humble Servt. 

H. London. 

Mr. Crawford to the Bishop of London. 
My Lord — After my dutyfull and most humble respects to yous 
Lo'p I presume to tell your Lo'p, that my health still continuer 
very uncertain, I am constantly sick Spring and Fall, and if it was not 
for my charge and office sake I wou'd by your Liberty leave the 
place, but my people, (tho' poor) have a particular respect for me 
as I have for them; and I thank God, they are as moral & Civil as 
any people I know in America, which I think is increas'd by a Society 
for a Reformation of Manners I have got erected here, so that now 
I believe one may live with us half a year and not hear one swear 
prophanely, or be catched drunk in the whole county: all I have to 
complain of is, that the people are not able to do much for me; I get 
but very little from them, and I have to preach sometimes twice 
and sometimes thrice in a week, the county is so large, and I think 
the congregation as numerous as any in America (Philadelphia ex- 
cepted). Our Church is near finished, it is all Glazed and almost 
full of pews; only we want a Pulpit Cloth and Surplice and are not 
able to buy them. I pray God to bless your Lo'p, and long preserve 
you for an happy Instrument in his hand for good to his Church and 
our Encourager in Forreign parts. I rest 

My Lord Your Lo'ps Son and Most humble Servant 

Thomas Crawford. 

Kent County on Delaware in Pensylvania, 30th Augt. 1708. 



168 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Mr. Crawford to the Secretary. 

London, 26th Deer. 1709. 
Honor'd Sir. — After my humble service unto &c. by this know 
that I am once more retum'd to London, I wou'd have waited on you 
but cannot be seen by any till I get cloaths, for I am all out of Order, 
wth my long absence and fatigue of my Voyage: wherefore I desire 
that my money that is due to me may be paid to my Attorny that 
I may get some mony to cloath me with, I have allowed none a 
Liberty to receive it but him, and since my return I have not recalled 
his power. I hope the Society will consider my condicon, that here 
I both want cloaths and money that what is due to me may be readily 
paid; that I may again appear before you and give you an account 
of my service abroad as also of the place and places adjacent thereto, 
and till then I for your satisfacon have sent the true copy of certifi- 
cate from the Justices, that has the County Seal to it ; I have more 
from the Wardens; as also from the Society for Reformation of 
Manners, with the County Seal to them that I cou'd not now coppy 
but the Originals shall be presented when you have paid my money 
to put me in any Order of appearing before you; this I hope you 
will communicate to the Committee and you will very much serve. 
Honord Sir Your most humble Servt. 

Thomas Crawford. 

Mr. Crawford to the Secretary. 

7th Jan'y. 1709. 
Sir. — I presume yet to trouble you once more, to signify I am in 
strait for money, I cannot but admire that my money shou'd be 
denved, seeing I am in want, and it justly due: as for Certificates of 
my diligence abroad and success in my office, I think I have been 
short of none that ever was sent by the Society (as what my Certifi- 
cates will shew) one copy I have sent to you, and two other Originals 
I have order'd to be sent to my Lord of London; I have not only 
done as they certify but more in baptising several Negroes and Men 
& AVomen, some 60 years and downwards of all ages, I have opposed 
Schism, — preached publickly in Quakers meetings, disputed pub- 
lickly, concerning which every one in the county can tell how well I 
acquit myself, silencing their Vagrant preachers; I supplyed Sussex 
in it, and at home frequently preaching thrice a week as opportunity 
and occasion offer'd, visiting the sick, burying the dead and all gratis, 
nay I have not only bought and bestowed Books on many, but also 
I have bestowed on the Church a Fine Pulpit Cloath and Cushion with 
a deep Silver Fringe, and none dare say but all my walk was suit- 
able to my profession, and I think the glory of God and Good of 
Souls was my only design; tho' I labour'd under abundance ofj^straits 
and troubles in that place: and now at nay return I surely must say 
I meet with very hard measure for all my Labour; it is so great that 
I am forced out of Town for want of bread I being already indebted 
to Mr. Lind above £,S0 he will advance me no more: I know no 
reason why it shou'd be denyed or my Bills protested as he has done, 
since it is justly due by the Society; I am sure it will not redound 
much to your honor abroad: I can defy the World to tax me with 
an ill thing in my life time, but what has lately befallen me ignor- 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 169 

antly, by the Hellish Contrivance of Elizabeth Watson and her base 
Mates and Associates she entertained: Mr. Middleton has had his 
own hand in it; he has been known to be no good man from his 
youth, nay for his uncleanness was tum'd out of the School of Edin- 
burgh and not thought worthy to be Usher there, having appear'd 
in the Church in Pennance, among the ffomicators and unclean; 
whatever credit he has now wth you: worse than this I can say, and 
know this is matter of fact: and this Gentleman sent me word in a 
Letter which I have to produce, that EUzabeth Watson was not to 
be heard of; and by the mouth of Mr. Black she was dead, but wou'd 
not write the worst least he shou'd discourage me: as many in 
Dover hundred know and heard him say so and another Letter by 
another hand, as the Justices in the place know that she was dead, 
it was signed with her Brother's Name and hand; I taxed him upon 
it, he denyed it, but said he Once believed she was dead; but his 
wife and he beUeved it was done by a fellow that was in the house 
with her whom all say she admitted to her embraces; But what I 
have to say of her uncleanness, that on oath I can get proved, and 
other villany to obtain her lust, & gratify her unclean desires as also 
a certificate of her former husbands death whom she trapann'd and 
sent to Sea, and then removed under the name of a Maid to a strange 
place, and things worse than these that I shall not mention : they 
lye not before you, nor are you Judges in such cases & therefore shall 
not trouble you with them: only I desire you not to pay my money 
to her but to Mr. Lind to whom I am indebted having received above 
;£50 of him more than he has received; I have no way else to pay him, 
and it is a pitty he shou'd suffer on my account that has encourag'd 
so many missionaries; with all the last money I sent Elizabeth Watson, 
she laid it out to pay the Boarding of a Gentleman's Children, to whom 
she had been valet de chambre many a night till all the world took 
notice of her base carriage with him, and then when she had lost her 
fame she came after me: with all she does not want for money, she 
told me nine days ago she had a great deal at Interest in Scotland. 

Sr. not troubling you farther since I cannot wait on the Society for 
want of money pray pay my money to Mr Lind and none else and in 
so doing you will oblige. 

Sir, 

Your humb' Servant 

Thomas Crawford. 

I design yet after this to see you all, till then let my misfortune 
be pityed and not enveyed against. 

Mr. Wm. Black. 

The Rev. William Black was the first Missionary in charge 
of Lewes and. Sussex County. The following records are 
most interesting. 

19th July, 1706. — ^The Secretary also reported from ye 
Committee that one Mr. Wm. Black a Layman recomended 
by the Lord Bishop of London had attended them and like- 
wise offered his service for the Mission, and that he had 



170 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

produced a Letter from the Lord Bishop of Carlile to the 
Lord Bishop of London, together with a certificate under 
the hand and Seal of the late Bishop of Edinburgh, & another 
under the hands of the Lords of the College of Glasgow and 
ye comon Seal of the said College & all giving a very good 
character of the said Mr. Black, but the comittee had not 
yet come to any Resolution about ye said Person because 
he has not procured Testimonials according to Form. 

16th August, 1706. — The Secretary acquainting the Bord 
that Mr. Black attended at the door. — Ordered that the 
Secretary do wait on the Lord A-Bishop & inform him that 
the Society does desire his Grace to direct what he thinks 
fit, in the case of the said Mr. Black. 

20th September, 1706. — Also that upon this occasion 
they had Agreed to move the Society that an application 
be made to the Lord Bishop of London that Mr. Wm. Black 
(who was some time ago recommended by the Lord Bishop 
of Carlile to the Society) may succeed Mr. Bridge as Assistant 
to the abovementioned Mr. Myles. The Secretary also 
reported that he had waited on the Lord Archbishop of 
Canterbury according to Order, & acquainted him with the 
case of Mr. Black, to whom his Grace had been pleased to 
give two Guineas for his p'sent support, & approved of his 
being sent to Boston. Agreed that the Secretary do wait 
on the Lord Bishop of London with the desire of the Society 
that Mr. Black may succeed Mr. Bridge, 

18th October, 1706. — The Secretary reported that he had 
waited on ye Lord Bishop of London with the Request of 
the Society at the last General Meeting that his Lordp would 
appoint Mr. Black to succeed Mr. Bridge at Boston, but 
that his Lordship was pleased to answer that Sr. Charles 
Hobby & some other N. England Gentlemen objected agt. 
the said Mr. Black as being too young; and that his Lord- 
ship did upon that occasion Recomend to ye Society the 
sending that Gentleman to Naraganset where a Minister 
is wanted. Ordered that the case of Mr. Black be Recom- 
itted to ye Standing Committee. 

15th November, 1706. — Also that the Committee had 
taken into their considerason ye case of Mr. Black, that the 
said Mr. Black had p.duced to them a Testimonial under 
the hand & seal of John Sharp of Hoddom one of the Justices 
of Peace in the Shire of Dumfries in Scotland & a Represent- 
ative in Parliament there rectifying the said Mr. Black's 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 171 

conformity to all ye Qualificasons of the Society's Mis- 
sionarys. That the Comittee had appointed the said Mr. 
Black to read prayers & preach, wch he pformed to the 
satisfaction of the Comittee. The said Report is Approved 
of & ye said Mr. Black was appointed to Naraganset with a 
Salary of £50 p. ann. for 3 years, comencing from Michas 
day last with the usual allowance of £10, & £5 for Books. 

18th April, 1707. — Also that having considered of a Letter 
from ye Lord Bp. of London dated 29. March, together 
with an Address from the Inhitants of Sussex on Delaware 
River to his said Lop. bearing date 6. March, 1705/6 desiring 
a Minister for the said country the people of wch promise 
to do what they are able towards the maintenance of him; 
they had agreed to move the Society that Mr. Black who 
was appointed to Naraganset at the General Meeting of the 
Society 15. Nov. last, may be sent to Sussex as above, it 
being the desire of the Lord Bishop of London because 
Naraganset is already supply 'd by Mr. Bridge; his Lop. 
having also in the said Letter, desir'd that Mr. Black may 
have some more advanc'd money upon the Acct. of his long 
stay here, they had agreed to move ye Society for their 
Directions in that matter. Ordered that Mr. Black be ap- 
pointed to Sussex as above, and that the Treasurer do ad- 
vance him his second half years allowance, on condition 
that he take the first opportunity of a Passage. 

19th September, 1707. — Also that upon reading several 
Letters from Mr. Black & Mr. Jenkyns dated from Spit- 
head on bord ye Ruby, 30. Aug. wherein they prayed the 
Advice & Assistance of the Comittee by reason of the 
said ship being appointed to Portugal, & complaining that 
they were reduced to great distress for want of money. The 
Comittee Agreed as their opinion that ye Secretary should 
write to the said Gentlemen & acquaint them that they 
should endeavour to pcure themselves a Passage in some 
other Ship bound to Virginia or Maryland forthwith, but 
if no such Opportunity offered that then they should return 
to London with their Effects. That the said Mr. Black & 
Mr. Jenkyns returned to London & attended the Comittee 
giving them Acct of their circumstances & Whereupon the 
Comittee Agreed to Report that ye Case of the said Mr. 
Black & Mr. Jenkyns is very compassionable, & Agreed to 
move the Society for their direction therein. This Report 
having been considered, and a Letter from Mr. Cordiner 



172 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

to the Secretary dated from Spithead IS. Sept. 1707, read. 
Agreed that the Treasurer be empowered to advance ye sum 
of Fifteen pounds to each of the abovemensoned Gentle- 
men out of their growing Salaries, to defray their respecti^•e 
Passages in the first Ships that are ready. 

16th January, 1708. — A letter was read from Mr. Black 
to the Secretary dated 3. January, 1707, from Plymouth 
signifying his great Wants by being so long Wind-bound 
at the said Port & others, &c. Order'd that the Secretary 
do write to the said Mr. Black, and acquaint him that he 
may draw upon the Treasurer for Ten pounds to be ad- 
vanced on the Credit of his growing Salary. 

11th February, 1709. — Also that they had read two letters 
from Mr. Black dated 19. June & 19 July last, giving an 
Accot of his & Mr. Jenkyns Voyage, arrival &c. Ordered 
that the Secretary do write to the said Mr. Black, & desire 
him to give an Accot of the Behavior of Mr. Nicols, Ross, & 
Jenkyns, in relation to the leaving their respective Churches. 

30th December, 1709. — Also two Letters from Mr. Black 
to the Lord Bishop of London, & to the Secretary dated — ■ 
Annapolis 7th June, 1709 importing that he and his people 
had been plunder'd & driA^en away by the ffrench; that he 
has received nothing from them, nor dos expect it now, 
and therefore prays he may be Lycensed for Maryland, & 
his Salary from the Society continued ; Whereupon they had 
Agreed to report as their opinion that the said Mr. Black 
shou'd be appointed to Appoquiminink vacant by the death 
of Mr. Jenkins: Agreed to. 

ISth December, 1710. — Also that they had read two Let- 
ters from Mr. Black to the Lord Bishop of London and the 
Secry. dated Accomake on the Eastern Shore of Virginia 
8th & 9th March 1709 importing his removal from Sussex 
County, and the occasion thereof as mention'd in his former: 
that being invited by the Vestry of Accomake, he was to 
be Inducted the 14th of ye said month, and desires his Lo'p 
to confirm the same: That at Lewes Town in Sussex County 
there is no security for a Minister, it lying open to any 
Enemy and the people so divided they will not allow him 
any maintenance: that he offer 'd to leave his Library, upon 
their giving Bond to be accountable to the Society for the 
same; but none of them willing so to do, he took it with 
him, and is ready to deliver it to the Society's Order: The 
Comee thereupon Agreed to lay these Letters before the 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 173 

Society: Then the said Letters were read: Agreed that 
notice be giA'en to Mr. Black that the Society is contented 
their Books should lye in his hands till further Ordr. 

20th April, 1711. — Also another [letter] from Mr. Black 
dated — Accomake in Virginia 30th Septr. 1710 owning the 
Receipt of the Secretary's wherein he is ordered to remove 
to Appoquiminick, but prays to be excused being In- 
stituted & Inducted into the parish where he is, and in which 
he will continue while he lives in America: That he has the 
Society's Library and prays it may be given his Parish ; but 
if that can't be obtained will deliver it to ye Society's Order 
on the receipt of his Bond he gave for the same: and lastly 
desires what moneys are due to him from the Society may 
be paid to his Order. 

Also another from the Vestry of Appoquiminick dated 
15th Septr. 1710 importing Mr. Black's being settled at 
Accomake and his Resolution of continuing there; there- 
fore pray to be supplyed with another Missionary: The 
Comee Agreed to lay this Letter before the Society and to 
move them that if Mr. Clubb appears to be qualifyed he may 
be removed to Appoquiminick and Mr. Humphrys to suc- 
ceed him in Oxford in Pensylvania and that the Library 
in Mr. Black's hands be sent either to Appoquiminy or 
Oxford, if either of those places want the same: Agreed to, 
and that Mr. Humphrys have an allowance of fifty pounds 
p. ann: commencing from Ladyday last, and five pounds 
worth of small Tracts for the use of his people; and as to 
Mr. Black's demand, and the disposal of the Library above- 
mention'd it is hereby refer'd to the Comee to consider and 
report their opinion thereof. 

10th October, 1712. — Another from Mr. Black at Ac- 
camick ye 7 July 1711. — says he has wrote several Letters 
but has had no answer — that ye Society is still in his debt 
a years Salary for serving at Sussex — and his bill protested 
tho' his removal was approv'd. — Thinks the reason may be 
because of his delay in Transporting himself from hence 
to Sussex which he says was impossible, or in not obeying 
the Orders of ye Society in removing to Appoquimick, which 
Letter did not reach him till a year after his being where 
he is, and where he contracted debts, and promis'd to stay. — 
That his circumstances are hard — prays the paymt of his 
mony & desires to be anointed ye Society's Missionary 
and that he may have some Coramon Prayer Books — ^Offers 
to serve ye Society in what they shall command him. ■ 



174 some records of sussex county. 

Copies of Letters from Mr. Wm. Black. 
Messrs Black & Jenkins to the Secretary. 
HoND. Sir. — We presume from the Countenance and favour where- 
with you and the rest of the honourable Society have entertained and 
employed us in this Mission, it might be your Expectation to hear 
from us before now; we therefore humbly crave your pardon for not 
writing to you sooner and at once do as humbly beg leave by you to 
acquaint the honble Committee with our ill success, having made no 
further progress in our Voyage than Torbay, where the whole Fleet 
now lye at Anchor in expectation of a fair and favourable wind; In the 
mean time nothing will be more grievous to us, than the pitifull 
treatment we get aboard, being in no respect better accommodated 
than the most ordinary Common Sailors, so much beneath and unbe- 
coming the dignity of our profession, that we are loth, or indeed almost 
ashamed to trouble you with mentioning the Particulars of it, know- 
ing not how it can be remedied; the whole provision which we made 
for our selves being now exhausted, and have not wherewith to get a 
new supply, without making further Intrusion upon the Societies 
bounty, however we only pray we may be considered as their Honours 
shall think fitt, knowing it is our duty (how necessitous and pressing 
soever our present circumstances be) to rest fully satisfyed with the 
will of God, and to continue unanimously in all due respects to your- 
self and all the Honble Society 

Dear Sr 
Your faithfull Missionaries & most obedt humble Servants, 

Thomas Jenkins 
William Black 
Torbay, From on Board the Ruby. 
Augst ye 13th, 1707. 

We humbly beg your answer here or elsewhere as you can get 
Information of the Fleet. 
Directions are 

To Jno. Chamberlayne, Esqr. 

Mr. Black to ye Secretary. 

Spithead Aboard ye Ruby, 
30th August 1707. 
HoND. Sr. — Having lately wrote to you conjunctly with Mr. Jen- 
kins from Torbay, fearing then what is now to our grief come to pass; 
We were in great hopes that by this time we should have been pro- 
ceeding with the rest of the Fleet, in our Voyage, but that very day 
we designed to have sailed, there came an Order that the Chester and 
Ruby shou'd return for Spithead. Wee have lived aboard these 14 
weeks, and have endured such hardships as come little short of Cap- 
tivity itself; the little money we had reserved for carrying us after 
our arrival at Virginia, to our respective places, we cou'd not possibly 
avoid the spending of; and being now destitute of every thing for to 
provide for our voyage, we are necessitate to request for assistance 
from the Honble Society, which otherways, considering their former 
bounty to my self in particular, I cou'd not without Chefhing desire. 
The sad treatment we have all of us met with has almost ruin'd our 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 175 

healths already, and if we be not supplyed and shou'd continue aboard 
may lay the foundation of sickness, which may make all our under- 
takings prove abortive; The uncertainty of the Admiralty in their 
Orders, has determined us (least we shou'd be disappointed a second 
time) to go aboard a Merchantman, but our money is at so low an 
Ebb, that we cannot come ashoare; hoping Sr. that your Answer will 
be suitable to my necessity. I am with all humility and duty 

Yours and the Honble Societies Missionary & most humble Servant, 

Directions are ^M. Black. 

To Jno Chamberlayne, Esqr, &c. 

Messrs Black & Jenkins to the Secretary. 

Portsmouth, 28th Octr. 1707. 
Sr. — The many misfortunes and discouragements we have met 
with, which seem still to be continued with the melancholy News of 
our Dear Brother Mr. Cr Cordiner and his family being carried into 
ffrance, and our present Disappointment here at Portsmouth, is the 
reason of our troubling you at this time. By the advice we had from 
the Gentlemen of the Admiralty office we came here. But the Oxford 
is not come yet to Spithead, and it being the opinion of many here that 
the Virginia fleet will not touch at Portsmouth, We humbly crave 
your and the Honble Society's advice what it is best for us to do in 
our present Circumstances. The Captain of the Bristol promis'd to 
take us both aboard his ship to the Downs where the Oxford lies, but 
he has to our great grief left us behind; Our being disappointed by 
him can't be imputed to any NegHgence in us, for we waited upon 
him every day, and went once aboard his ship, we spake to him the 
nigSt he sailed hence, at which time he told us he was not to sail for 
three days tho' he went off that very night; We add no more but that 
we are heartily sorry, and condole our disappointments from time to 
time and that we are very sensible of your own kindness, hoping that 
all the Dispensations of Gods Providence will teach us submission to 
him and Obedience and thankfulness to our Honorable Benefactors 
We are in all humiUty and Sincerity 

Your and their faithfull Missionaries & humble Servants. 

Wm Black 

„ ., J Tho. Jenkins 

Superscribed ■' 

To Jno. Chamberlayne, Esqr., &c. 

Mr. Black to the Secretary. 

Plymouth, 3rd Jany. 1707. 
Sr. — The Reason why I have not troubled you with an acct. of my 
Circumstances, since I was last at London is, because the last Letter 
that Mr. Jenkins and I wrote, (tho' we knew not the Spring of the bad 
resentmt of some of the Society,) had such an effect as to produce an 
ill understanding betwixt some particular Members and us, as if we had 
prodigally lavish'd away the money we had from the Honble Society. 
We are sure that we have done justly and candidly by representing 
things as they really were, for none of the money we have put to bad 
uses, as the accots of our disbursmts we have by us, if we may be 
believed can testify. Our whole dependance being upon the Honble 



176 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Society, and having no other way to unfold our Condition, but by 
representing the matter of Fact, we hope that the Honble Society 
will not take it ill that urgent necessity has again enforced us par- 
ticularly myself again to address them. For Mr. Jenkins being Chap- 
lain of the Oxford in which I am a Passenger has upon that accot had 
I suppose some money advanced him at Portsmouth which I cou'd 
not have. I confess that none of the Missionaries have been so 
troublesome as we, but if it be consider'd that our case is extraordinary 
having waited for Transportacon since the beginning of April, the 
Providence of God being also extraordinary wth respect to our Voyage 
for it is better to be here as we are, than to have been carried into 
France in the Ruby. We have used all means that human Industry 
cou'd Invent for saving money and attaining our end, but who can 
fight against the winds or resist his Will? I hope, all this consider'd, 
our humble desire for supply having no other Outgate, will appear 
by this time both reasonable and excusable, which that it may appear 
evidently I crave pardon to give a brief but true accot. of some of the 
Difficulties we have encounter'd since we left London. When we 
came to Portsmouth it was reported by all, that this Fleet then com- 
ing from the Downs was not to touch there, which laid us under a 
necessity of going aboard the Ipswich which was to meet the Fleet 
We thence went aboard the Oxford for which we had an Order, but 
she having run aground, went into the Dock, which cost us infinite 
Fateigue and trouble, then we went on Board the Guernsey where we 
were tormented by the ill treatment we reced and to sum up all our 
unhappyness, Capt. Huntington Commander set us a shoar; The 
Fleet being ready to sail, we went on Board a Merchant Man, then 
fearing We shou'd have lost our Passage We went aboard the Flagg 
Sr. John Norris Admiral who indeed of all that we met with pa5''d us 
most respect and civility, what money this trouble from Ship to Ship 
cost us — can scarcely be believed by any but us who payd it. We 
have been universally hated because of our close adherence to the 
Honble Society their Orders to us in reproving the open and avow'd 
debaucheries of wicked and unreasonable men, being now reduced to 
our old Circumstances of Poverty, our engagement with the Honble 
Society puting us out of the way of all employment for our Sustenance. 
I humbly desire. Dear Sr, that you wou'd represent our Condition 
especially mine, upon the aforesd accot. that they the Honble Society 
may send us some assistance, for without it I am Hke to proceed no 
farther if the Fleet continue any time; Our treatment on Board is the 
same wth that of Common Sailors, which we wou'd never complain 
off if it were not Observ'd by others, who look upon us as ye veryest 
Wretches in the World being, as the world for the most part is, ready 
to measure a Man's happyness according to his Circumstances. Now 
if any of us shou'd miscarry, in this Mission, which God forbid, hav- 
ing done all and suffer'd all that Humane N'ature can support, we 
cannot be chargeable of mismanagement. Wishing all happyness 
imaginable to your and your Family & an Imortal reward to each 
member of the Honble Society. I continue as ever 

Your & their very humbe Servt Wm. Black. 

P. S. — ^Dear Sir: — I hope you will honour me with an Answer, 
for our Necessities cry aloud for it, being never in such Circumstances 
as at present, not being able so much as to pay for a Boat from Shoar 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 177 

aboard. I am afraid that my Exigency will make me Contract debt 
wch I ever avoided as the last & worst of Shifts. I must tell you that 
both Mr. Jenkins and my Books reced from ye Honble Society are 
mightily damnifyed by being tossed from Ship to Ship. We are to 
be found on Board the Oxford riding in Plymouth Sound. 

Mr. Black to the Secretary. 

KtcKATAN IN Virginia 
19th June, 1708. 
Honor'd Sir. — By the blessing of God we are now arrived here 
after a long and tedious Passage; there has bin such a Mortality on 
Bord our Ship the Oxford that we have buryed 30 men, & near 100 
are dangerously sick. Mr. Jenkins was sick almost six Weeks, but 
is now recover'd and as well as ever, as for myself, I have not had 
one hour of sickness since I left England, and seem to be cut out by 
Providence for any Country. We are now using all means for geting 
as soon as possible to Pensilvania, w'here by the assistance of Divine 
Grace, I shall endeavour to be as usefuU as I can that I may at the 
same time both discharge my Conscience & answer the expectations 
of so pious and Honble Society as our Worthy Patrons are. My most 
humble Service to yourself wishing you long life & prosperity. As 
for the Honble Society may they long florish & successfully go on 
in so good a Work, & when they are all to be translated to a better 
life, may they be succeeded by men of their own piety & care for our 
holy Religion. I am &c. Wm. Black. 

il/r. Black to the Secretary. 

New Castle on Delaware 
River 19th July 1708 
HoND. Sir. — I wrote to you from Kickatan in Virginia about two 
weeks agoe since which time I am come so far in my Journey as this 
place. I have nothing to offer in this than what I said in my last 
Letter, but that I am hasting down Delaware to Sussex County, only 
I wou'd rather be guilty of Tautology in writing the same thing than 
of want of Deference and respect to so Venerable a Corporation as 
the Honble Society is. Mr. Jenkyns has now left me and is gone to 
his charge. I am inform'd his Congregation will be very small, ithe 
place being so wonderfully divided into Quakers, Independants and 
Presbyterians; But I hope that the place I am going to will prove 
less disturbed with Sectaries of any denomination; the contagion 
of Enthusiasmi not having spread itself so far down the Country. 
I shall in every point, God enabling me, be observant of the Instruc- 
tions I have already received or shall receive from the Honorable 
Society. I pray God to bless all my Benefactors and yr self & Family 
in particular. I am in all Sincerity 

Honor'd Sr. Your most Obedt humble Servt 

Wm. Black. 
Mr. Black to the Secretary. 

Annapolis, June 7th, 1709. 
Ho.^IOR'D Sir. — I rece'd a Letter from you wth an account of 
some of the Transactions of the Society, to which long ago I wrote 
an answer, since which time (May 7th) the ffrench have been among 



178 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

US, and have Pillaged the Town, and ruin'd the people; and I with 
great difficulty escaped: I was fain for my security to fly about 30 
Miles upon Sunday the 8th May. The County in all places where 
'tis inhabited lies open to the Sea so that there is no safety there. 
The Captain of the privateer is one Monsr Le Croix, the number of 
the Men is 120, with 4 Guns, and we are threatened by another Ship 
of the same force with a Man of War from old ffrance. The people 
have not contributed one farthing for my maintenance since I came; 
I've reced nothing from them, & those who subscribed are mostly 
ruin'd, so that now I cannot expect they shou'd give me any thing, 
since they were unwilling to subscribe when they were of Ability. 
I drew upon my Attorny my Salary for this year, before this encident 
happen'd, and indeed the £50 allowed me amounts to about ;i£30 
here, since ev'rything we buy is sold at the rate of 4 or 500 p. cent. 
I have been here now one year and am forced with the permission 
of my Lord of London to settle inyself in our neighbouring Province of 
Maryland. I had my recourse to his Excellency the Governor of 
the Province who received me as he dos all clergymen, with great 
civility and has promised to provide for me, till such time as my 
Lord of London sends me a Lycence, at which time I am to be Legally 
establish'd, and since I cannot help my leaving Sussex, I hope that 
the Honble Society will not wthdraw their Bounty but continue it, 
as I shall to serve God & the Church according to my ability, where 
God in his providence shall cast my Lott. Mr. Crawford & Jenkins 
live on the same River but are far removed from Danger, but we 
lying at the very Capes become a prey to every Enemy that comes 
that way. The Quakers who are very numerous will neither resist 
themselves nor contribute to the maintenance of those that willingly 
wou'd. Wishing to yourself and all my very good Benefactors health 
and happyness here & hereafter I am 

Your & their faithfull Missionary & humbe Seivt. 

Wm. Black. 

Mr. Black to Ld. Bp. of London. 

Annapolis, 7. June. 1709. 
My Lord. — Having this Opportunity I thought it my duty to 
acquaint your Lo'p what has happen'd at Lewis Town in Sussex 
County, being that part of your Lop's Diocese in America to which 
I was sent. May 7th there arrived a ffrench Privateer of 4 Guns and 
about 120 Men on Monsr Le Croix being Captain, who pillaged the 
Town, and has laid wast all the parts adjacent; many of the people 
are fled back into the country, one Man only was kill'd, and it is 
thought that the dammage they have done to the place amounts 
to about ;£3000 the place is threatened to be burn't, for they inform'd 
the people that there was a Man of War from old fifrance and another 
Ship of equal force with themselves to be there very soon. I liv'd 
about one mile from the Town, and was chased from that place out 
of the County, and the people being mostly quakers, will neither 
fortify themselves agst their Enemies, nor contribute to the main- 
tenance of such as wou'd, so that the whole County which is my charge 
is like to be ruin'd. The people also, as I have inform'd your Lo'p 
in a Letter of an older date than this, will contribute nothing to my 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 179 

subsistence, and the ;£S0 I have from the Society amounts to above 
£30 here for nothing can be bought at the cheapest hand under 4 or 
500 p. cent, and the Church not being establish't by Law in this 
Province of Pensylvania; no man can hve here upon the precarious 
Contribution of a divided people upon this consideration I had my 
recourse to his Excellency the Governour of our neighbouring Province 
of Maryland who rather than that I shou'd return for Britain, has 
entertained me in Maryland upon condition that your Lo'p by sending 
me a Lycense to stay here shou'd approve of my removal; so that 
I beg that your Lo'p will send it me to Anapolis that I may serve 
God here, since your Lo'p was pleased to send me into these parts. 
This County of Sussex lyes so open to the Sea that there can be no 
safety in it; this is the 3rd time the people have been robbed, twice 
the last Warrs and onct this ; I hope that your Lo'p will prevail wth 
ye Society to continue my Salary since my removal is caused by meer 
& unavoidable necessity, wishing your Lo'p long life & health for 
the good of the Churches here & at home I am 

May it please your Lo'p 
Yor Lo'ps most dutyfuU Son & humb Servant. 

Wm. Black. 

Mr. Black to ye Ld. Bishop of London. 

j\Iy Lord. — I wrote to your Lo'p from Annapolis of the date of 
16th or 20th of June 1709, and acquainted your Lo'p that I was neces 
sitate to remove from Sussex County in Pensylvania to Maryland, 
where I was entertained by the Govr and permitted by him to Of- 
ficiate in the Parish of Piscataway; But upon my return to Sussex 
to transport my Books to that place, The French who were the cause 
of my removal, and who had pillaged and laid wast the Town, were 
succeeded by another Privateer and prevented my return to Piscat- 
away, I being to go up the River where they then rode: A little after 
I was invited by the Vestry of Accomake Parish on the Eastern Shore 
in the Colony of Virginia to officiate there, where I now am. I was 
directed by that Vestry to wait upon the President and your Lo'ps 
Commissary Mr. Blair which I did and was civilly accepted of by 
them. This parish for about fifteen years having been destitute 
of a Minister, that I might be the more encouraged to stay with them, 
addressed the President that I might be inducted into the said Parish, 
which he granted, so that I am to be Inducted into this Church the 
14th of this instant. I told your Lo'p in my last that there is no 
security for any Minister to live at Lewis Town it lying open to any 
Enemy; and the people are so divided that they will not allow of any 
maintenance to a Minister, but willingly entertain Itinerant En- 
thusiasts and Straglers. Tho' I lived there a whole year, I never 
reced one farthing from any of them, and shou'd have been in very 
pityfuU circumstances, if I had not had the Society's Salary allow'd 
me, which being ;£50 p. Ann: is too little by one half for a Minister 
who lives there: fior while the Minister depends upon the precarious 
contribucon of a very poor people for the greatest part of his Salary, 
he is forced either to connive at many of their irregular actions, or 
to lose the next years subscription of every one he displeaseth by re- 
proving their Vices. I carryed the Society's Books along with me, 
I offer'd 'em to be preserved for the Society's use, if they to whom 



180 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

I shou'd commit the custody of them, wou'd have given me their 
Bond to restore them to such as the Society shou'd give order here- 
after to receive them: But none of the Chief men there wou'd releive 
my Bond whereby I am obUged to restore them in such condicon 
as I received them, reasonable use and other accidents excepted. 
The Books if the Society shou'd think fit wou'd answer the same 
design here as there, they being given us for our further encourage- 
ment. I humbly begg that your Lo'p would be pleased to confirme 
me in the Cure of the Parish where I now live, for having fforfeited 
my allowance from the Society by being forced to remove thence. 
If your Lo'p shou'd think fit to order me back again to Sussex, I 
shall have nothing to depend upon, so that my Circumstances will 
be so pressing that contrary to my Inclinations I shall be necessitate 
to return for Great Britain; that your Lo'p may long continue in 
life and health to the welfare of the Churches at home and abroad 
is the prayer of 
I May it please your Lo'p 

Your Lo'ps most dutyfuU son & humb servant. 

Wm. Black. 

ACCOMAKE, ON THE EASTERN ShORE OF THE CoLONY OP VIRGINIA 

8. March. 1710. 

il/r. Black to the Secretary. 

\ AcCOMAKE, ON THE EASTERN ShORB IN VIRGINIA, 

30th Septr. 1710. 
Honor'd Sir. — I reced yours of the date of Janry 6, 1709, wherein 
I am ordered by the Society to remove forthwith to Appoquiminick; 
but I am now living in Virginia on the Eastern Shore about 200 miles 
from that place, the parish is very large, the people kind and I my- 
self settled among them: I was here Instituted & Inducted into the 
parish as in a former Letter I have inform'd you. I have not re- 
ceived one farthing either from the Society (if they have not answered 
my Bill of £SQ sterling) or the people of Sussex; for the truth whereof 
I appeal to the whole County where I lived a whole year; so that 
the Society is only owing me something more than one years salary. 
As for my removing, my Circumstances are such that I cannot, and 
the place and people where I am I like very well, and resolve if nothing 
prevent me to continue with them while I live in America. If my 
Bill shou'd be protested, 'tis what I fear'd and therefore was neces- 
sitate, tho' in great straits, not to make use of the money, which if 
God spare me, I will faithfully repay. I have served God and the 
Society in Sussex from the 26th of July 1708, to Augt 1709, since 
which time I've lived in Accomake in the Eastern Shore of Virginia. 
I hope Sr. if my money be not paid to my Attorney Mr. Law. Smith 
of Chfford's Inn that you will pay it according to my Order, for I am 
so afraid of Bills, that I shall be very Cautious in making use of that 
way; As for the Society's Books I carryed them with me; I earnestly 
desire Hond Sir that the Society would be pleased to appropriate 
them to the parish where I live, for I have very few Books of my own, 
and the Society will I hope attain their end in so doing. If they 
shou'd think fit to dispose otherwise of them, I am very ready to 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 181 

comply, as it is both reasonable and my duty, with their Orders, 
only I desire that my Bond may be sent to me whereby I obliged 
myself to restore them in as good case (ordinary use excepted) as I 
received them in; this was the reason. I carryed them to Accomake. 
I oiTer'd them to the Gentlemen of Sussex if they wou'd have given 
me their Bond to keep me harmless from that of the Society, if the 
Books shou'd have been lost or abused. I have had such an exper- 
ience of the people of Pensylvania that I can never expect any better 
treatment than I have received, so that I desire that the Society 
wou'd let me serve God where I am, since God in his providence sent 
me to this place when I was in as great need of their Temporall, as 
they of my Spiritual assistance. May God long preserve the Honble 
Society and prosper their Designs and reward yourself for your kind- 
ness & civility to me when I was a Stranger. I am, 

Honor'd Sir, 
Your very humb and Obliged Servant. Wm. Black. 

A Journal of Mr. Ross's Labours in the Gospel Dureing 
His Short Stay in the County of Sussex Upon Dela- 
ware. (August 1717). 

The zeal and affection of the People in Lewis Town for the 
church has appeared so great of late, that they have pitch'd 
upon a sober person an Inhabitant among them, to read 
prayers to them every Lord's day, which he does with so 
great applause that the congregation he supplyes as a Reader 
doth visibly increase every Sabbath. Mr. Brook collector 
there a good & zealous church man supplyes him with sermon 
books wherein the said Reader reads, much to the Satis- 
faction of the People. This method I could not but approve 
of, & recommend in their present circumstances. 

The Hon. Colonel William Keith, with the Rev Mr. Ross 
and several other gentlemen, set sail from New Castle, Satur- 
day, August 3d, 1717, for Lewes. They arrived Monday, 
August Sth. Tuesday, August 6th, Mr. Ross records: "I 
attended the Governor to the Court House of the said County 
where I read divine service, The Justice of the County with 
many others being present. 

"Wednesday, August 7th, Service being read in the said 
Court House, I preached on these words, ' Thou shalt not 
bear false witness against thy neighbour.' 

"The house was full of People and many hearkened at 
the doors and windows. 

"They had not an opportunity of hearing a Minister of 
the Church a good while before, and therefore the diligent 
attention they gave to my discourse was the less surprising. 



182 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"I was obliged to dismiss the Congregation before I could 
proceed to administer Baptism to those many that came 
there to receive it, lest, by taking up too much of the Gov- 
ernor's time, I should prove a hindrance to him and the 
Justices in the dispatch of business. 

"The number of Children and Infants baptized this day 
was thirty. 

"Friday, August 9th, I preached again, the words I in- 
sisted upon were, ' and Behold one came and said unto 
Him Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may 
inherit Eternal Life;' the Governor and a greater audi- 
tory than I had formerly was present. I baptized one and 
twenty." 

Abstracts from Deeds Showing Location of 
William Becket Property. 

Deed from Samuel Davis of Somerset County in the province 
of Maryland, Gent. — to William Becket of the town of Lewes, 
in the County of Sussex upon Delaware, Gent. — 

Dated sixth day of July in the eighth year of the reign of 
our Sovereign Lord George by the grace of God King of 
Great Britain A. D., 1722. Consideration — 68 £. 

Description. — One certain lott of Land Containing in 
breadth Sixty foot, & in length two hundred feet situate, 
lying and being in the second street of the Town of Lewes 
afs'd binding on the North West side with the lott that was 
formerly Philip Russell's but now in the Possession of William 
Godwin, and on the South East side with the Comon lotts 
and grave yard of the s'^l Town. Together with the house 
that now is thereon and all and singular the appurtenances, 
privileges, proffits, Comoditys, ways. Easements, heredita- 
ments, freedoms, Imunities whatsoever thereunto belonging 
or in anywise appertaining and all Deeds, writings & 
Evidences touching or Concerning the same or any part 
thereof. 

Deed Philip Russell to Wm. Godwin, dated Aug. 8, 1723.^ 

All that lott or parcel of land lying and being in the 
Town of Lewes being sixty foot in breadth & two hun- 
dred feet in length and bounded on the South East with 
the lott of Wm. Becket and on the South West with a new 
street lately laid out and on the North West with knitting 
Street or Mulberry Street and on ye. North East with the 
second Street. 







!5 -.11 4 ^s',f 



Li ^^ 





I « 



J 111** s|l 
5 { ^ * 



^ Hl^ 



a» 









S-S 



I ^3 h t 

= .... .11 -3 S 






IS -3 



i 5 1 



I 



0*i! 



i^n^, 



1 ^ .1 



C 

c 

K 



< - '5h3?i-3ij<tuSii.iiil.f;,|.hi1|-ii3 ;■*- ^JiiJJsisiiifiSali'Eyiissli-!' 



' vifflKL ^■V.'^^^* 



.''^!*"^W?J53'»T'^'?<»«P*Sr?^5''*^«ii">fSW«<' 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 183 

29 Sept., 1721. 
Members of the Church at Lewes Town, Pensilvania. 

The Rev. Mr. Beckett happily came amongst us on the first instant 
and after he had paid his respects to our worthy Govr Sir Wm. Keith 
made known to us the favorable disposition of the Hon. Society to this 
poor Congregation as they are set forth in a letter of the 31st of May 
wherewithal you have been pleased to favour us. We beseech you 
Sr to say for us to those Hon. persons that we shall always preserve 
in our minds a most grateful! sence of what they have had the good- 
ness to do for us. And what we have hitherto seen of Mr. Beckett 
gives us the strongest hopes that in the Tenor of his Life & Doctrine 
he will both adorn his Profession & fulfill that good & great end to 
which he hath the Honor to be appointed so shall it be our lasting 
care as well 'as pay him that respect which is due to his character 
as to make such suitable provision for his better & more comfortable 
support as Himself could justly expect were he fully seen in the Cir- 
cumstances of this People & we doubt not in a few months longer 
to make this good to his satisfaction & that of his Constituents. Do 
us the favour Sr to lay these things before the Hon. Board & we shall 
ever own ourselves to be 

Sr Yor Most Humble & obliged Servants 

Hen. Burke, 
Lewes on Michaelmas Day, 1721. W.m. Till. 

A. D. 1722. "The Reverend Mr. Beckett, Minister at 
Lewes-Town, &c., in Pensilvania; That he has three Places 
to officiate at, where he has Considerable numbers of Hearers; 
at two of which Places, the People have built Churches, 
before they had a Prospect of a Minister; & appointed sober 
Laymen to read the Prayers of the Church, to keep the peo- 
ple steady to their Principles; that Subscriptions are raising 
for building another Church ; that he has baptized S 5 Per- 
sons, nine whereof were adult ; & there is a manifest change 
in the Lives & Manners of, & a very great Reformation 
among many of the People, since his Coming there ; for which 
he has received the Thanks of the Magistrates & Gentlemen 
of the Church of England in that County." 

1724. "From the Reverend Mr. Beckett, Minister at 
Lewes in Pensilvania, That the number of Persons bap- 
tized last year in his Parish are 82, eleven or twelve of which 
are Adults; that the Church of Lewes is almost finished; & 
tho' they have now three Churches in that County, yet none 
of them will contain the Hearers which Constantly attend 
at Divine Service; that in his Journey thro' Kent County 
he baptized in one day 6 adults, & IS children, & had a 
numerous Congregation, where they have a large church, 
but no Minister." 



184 some records of sussex county. 

Queries to be Answered by the Persons Who Were 
Commissaries to My Predecessor (The Late Bishop 
OF London). 

What Parishes are there, which have yet no Churches, 
nor Ministers? 

Here being no publick Acts for a legal Establishment of 
the Church here ; the Distinction of Parishes is yet unknown 
in this Government; but here are several large Tracts of 
Land inhabited, where there is neither Church nor Minister, 
and several Churches built in other Tracts, who are in great 
want of Missionarys; particularly those att Kent, Apoquin- 
iminck, Bristol, Parkiomen, & White-Marsh. 
We are My Lord 
Yr Lo'p most obedient, most Dutifull Sons & Servants 

RoBT. Weyman. Geo. Ross. 

Wm. Beckett. Ins. Humphreys. 

(Answers to Queries abt 172|^.) 
Queries to he Answered by Every Minister, 1724. 

How long is it since you went over? &c. 

Three years in June last. 

Have you had any other church? &c. 

None, my Lord. 

Have you been duly Licens'd by the Bishop of London? &c. 

Yes. 

How long have you been inducted? &c. 

No Induction here. 

Are you ordinarily resident in the Parish ? 

I have not been absent from my own care Two Sundays 
for the space of Ten Months pass'd. 

Of what extent is your Parish? 

I have the care of three churches in this County. One 
of them being 25 miles, the other 2 from the church in Lewes 
where I live. Number of Familys about Four Hundred. 

172S. "From the Reverend Mr. Beckett, Minister at 
Lewes in Pensilvania, That tho' they have already three 
Churches, at which he officiates alternately, which are 
constantly filled with pretty regular Congregations; 3'et the 
People living in the Middle of the Country have raised a 
Subscription to build another Chappel in the Center of it ; 
that the number of the baptized every year since his being 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 185 

there, has been never less than eighty; & on Easter & Whit- 
sunday he had twenty-seven communicants." 

1726. — Churches in Pensilvania, how supplyed with 
Ministers ? 

Lewes town & two more churches in Sussex County by 
Mr. Becket. 

Are there any Infidels, bond or free? 

Yes. A great many Negroe Slaves; Some whereof I have 
baptized since coming here. We have but few Indians & 
these seem obstinate to the means of conversion. 

How oft is divine Service performed? 

Thrice a week, viz Sundays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. 
On the Sabbath my Churches are full, & on Litany Days 
Several of the more Sober & devout duely attend on the 
Worship of God. 

How oft is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper administer'd? 

Thrice a year viz: Easter, Whitsun, & Christmas. The 
number of communicants is about 20. 

At what times do you Catechise? 

Every Sunday in the Summer Season where I usually 
preach a catechetical Lecture in the Afternoon. 

Are all things duly dispos'd & provided in the Church? 

No, my Lord, Our Churches being none of them yet finished. 

Of what value is your living in Sterling money? 

Besides the Bounty of the Honable Society, I have but 
very little to depend on for subsistance. The People here 
have indeed subscribed towards my Support, but by reason 
of Poverty few are able to pay. 

Have you a House and glebe? 

No House nor glebe is provided for a Minister here. 

Is due care taken to preserve your House in good repair? 

Att my own. 

Have you more cures than one ? 

I have 3 Churches in this county as before mentioned. 
Att one of which I officiate every Sunday alternately. 

Have you in your Parish any Publick School? 

None, my Lord. 

Have you a Parochial Library? 

I have the Library sent thither by the Honable Society 
For the due preservation of which I take a particular care 
myself. I am My Lord, 

Yr Lordship's most obedt & most dutifull Son & Servt. 

Wm. Becket. 



186 some records of sussex county. 

Extract from Letter of Mr. Becket Writing in Fa- 
vour OF Peters. 

May it please your Lordship. — The Congregation at Phila- 
delphia, are desirous that the ReverendjMr. Peters, might 
be plac'd there, as Minister of that Church. And I beg with 
all Deference & Regard to remain. 

My Lord, 
Yr most Dutiful & obedient Son & Servant 

Wm. Becket, 
Missionary at Lewes. 

Ussher's Letter Against Peters. 

"I, Arthur XJssher missionary at Dover in the province of Pensil- 
vania do solemnly declare, that I heard the Revnd Mr. Peters preach 
in Christs Church in Philadelphia on Whit Sunday in the present year 
1737. The words of the text were these: He shall baptize you with 
the Holy Ghost. In his discourse he seem'd to extoU & estabUsh 
natural reUgion, so far as to destroy the necessity of Divine inspira- 
tion; and farther said that reason & Revelation alone, were sufficient 
to enable a man to work out his salvation. The whole discourse 
seem'd to be calculated to establish natural religion. And I do farther 
declare, that the Revnd Mr. Peters, in the Revnd Mr. Cummings 
house on the sd Whit Sunday evening, just before he went into Church, 
& preached the sd subject he preached upon that evening, that he 
had given it, its due weight, & treated it in a different manner from 
our Modem Divine. 

"Sept: 18th, 1737. "Arthur Ussher." 

"Philadelphia, Sept. 4th, 1743. 

"My Lord. — I am now all most seven years in the service of the 
venerable Society, and to the best of my knowledge and skill, have 
made use of all the possible means I could devise, to promote the 
glory of God, and the Salvation of the Souls committed to my charge , 
before the 26th of June last. I have baptized 510 grown persons 
and childeren, and since 45 childeren & 3 adults; The Mission of Lewes 
is now become vacant by the death of the late missionary Mr. Becket , 
the burthen of his charge lying upon me for these two years past (he 
being unable to officiate but a very short space of the above two 
years. After the strictest enquiry I coud make, I find a th-ousand 
and twenty men in the county of Kent, four hundred & eighty four 
of which number professing themselves of the Church of England, 
fifty six of the Quakers, three hundred and ninety seven Presby- 
terians, sixty two Papists, and above twenty who profess themselves 
to be of no religion, & seem to glory in it. 

"I am, my Lord, with the greatest respect my Lord, 

"Your most dutiful & obliged Son & Servant, 

"Arthur Ussher." 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 187 

Letter to Mr. Cummings. 

March 13, 1727-8. 
Revd. and Dear Bro. — I had the favour of your letter of Nov. 11, 
for which I thank you, & till that time did not hear tho' I did suspect 
what success our soHcitations with respect to the licences, has met 
with, I will write to the Bishop & Society upon that head, by the 
1st opportunity & shall be glad to hear what you will do in the case. 
Mr. Ross has not said one word about it in any of his letters to me, 
he only wanted one licence for himself and did not care what became 
of all the rest. Now he has sped himself he may perhaps have taken 
care for the rest. Mr. Campbell was here in the beginning of the 
year, he brought with him a paper of recommendation to whom it 
might concern cautiously worded & signed by Laymen signifying 
that since he was only yet accussed but not convicted he might be 
employed in the service of the church, I consented that some of the 
gentlemen here should sign it but would not do it myself tho' he 
pressed me much, I told him the clergy would do nothing but in 
conjunction & it would be a jest for me to sign it. Please to give my 
humble service to honest Mr. Peter Evans & all friends. Messers. 
Brooke & Pemberton are well and give their service to you we have 
no news here having been shut up with ice for many weeks. My 
service to Mr. Fenton's family. 

I am Dr. Bror. yours most affectionately, W. B. 

I take this opportunity to acquaint you the affairs of the churches 
which are under my care go on as usual, that is, I thank God for 
it, they are in the main in a prosperous condition. But there is 
a matter or two of some moment to the welfare of the Church as I 
conceive which I more especially crave leave and intend to lay be- 
fore you at this time. Since Major Gordon's arrival here as Gov- 
ernor he has promisculously granted licences to us and the Presby- 
terian ministers, a thing which was never done before (save only in 
the last year of Sir Wm. Keith's" goverment when Doctor Welton 
nonjuror was minister at Phila.) He was not fit to grant them & 
indeed his fortune appeared Desperate, so yt he was willing to raise 
money by any means.) so yt a small perquisite is hereby in a great 
measure granted away from the Missionaries but what is more con- 
siderable is that it is depriving us of what is our Right. At our last 
Convention held at New Castle, the Missionaries did humbly repre- 
sent this matter to the Governor desiring his Favour in the Case, 
which he hath denyed us. Perhaps a Letter in our favour from the 
Honrable Society to this Gentleman might bring him to reason & do 
the Missionaries a considerable kindness. There is another affair 
which I conceive of some moment which might lend much to pro- 
mote the designs of the Honrable Society for propagating the Gos- 
pel in America which I must beg leave to lay before you & it is briefly 
this: Here is a large, good Tract of Land lying between Maryland & 
Pennsylvania called the 3 Lower Counties on Delaware about 100 
miles long & in some places 20 or 30 wide. This land as yet has no 
Proprietor but his Majesty tho' both Lord Baltimore and Penn's 
Heirs are now contending for it in England, not because either of 
them has a Title to it but because it is convenient for both and each 
has a mind to it. It is generally believed by many of the best people 



188 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

here who know the weakness and insufficiency of both their claims that 
this Land when the dispute on both sides is fully heard will remain 
to the King. If his Majesty when it is so determined will bestow it 
on the Society, a good Sum of Money might easily be raised off of it 
towards the Support of a Bishop or Suffragan the maintenance of 
missionaries or to such uses as the Society should think fit. I am 
told by some of the Representatives of the people here who meet in 
Assembly for the making of our Laws, that here are about 200,000 
Acres of Land cleared & improved, some of the Settlers have Titles 
from James, Duke of York, some from Penn the Quaker, some from 
Lord Baltimore, all it is believed good for nothing in Law. It would 
be of little value to the Crown to keep it but of great service to the 
Church to bestow it on the Society. It would be a popular act & make 
a noise in England. And the people here would be glad to have the 
Church their Landlord, I mean the majority who are members of the 
Church of England. Dissenters of all sorts here being not so numer- 
ous as the Church people. I am satisfied if this point could be car- 
ryed it would be of the greatest service to the Church here, I will 
write to my Lord Bp of London on the same subject. But I will 
trouble you with no more at present only desire you to lay this before 
the Honrable Society in obedience to whose Orders I will very soon 
send to you such an account of the Church History & of my Parishes 
as you require. 

I remain Sr your most obedt Servt 

W. B. 
March 13, 1727-8 To Dr. Humphrey. 

To the Bishop of London. 
My Lord. — Tho' I have not the happiness of being known to 
your Lord'p, yet as I have been a Missionary to the Society for propa- 
gating the Gospel & in Pennsylvania near 7 years and have made 
some observation upon the state of affairs here, so I have something 
to offer to your Lordp's consideration which I conceive would (if it 
could be effected) conduce much to the Interest of Religion here. 
And this I humbly pray may be accepted as my Apology for giving 
your Lrp this present Trouble. Here is a good Tract of Land being 
on the West side of Delaware Bay & between the Two Provinces of 
Maryland & Pennsylvania commonly called the 3 Lower Counties 
(or Counties of New Castle, Kent & Sussex on Delaware about 100 
miles in length & in some places 20 miles wide which as yet has proba- 
bly no Proprietor but his Majesty tho' Lord Baltimore & the Heirs 
of Penn the Quaker are both now contending for it at Law in Eng- 
land, not so much because either has a good title to it as because each 
desires & it will be a good convenient addition to either of their 
Provinces could they recover or procure a Grant of it. But it is 
generally believed by many persons of the best credit & capacities 
here, who are most acqted with the case that the Land does yet 
belong to the Crown yt the claims of both the one & the other are 
weak and insufficient & yt, when is fully canvassed before the proper 
judicature in England it will be determined in favour of his Majesties 
claim who when at any time a Commission is passed to a Governor 
of Pennsylvania & of the 3 Lower Counties on Delaware has alwaj-s 
a clause inserted to this purpose "Saving to ourself our Rights to 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 189 

the 3 Lower Counties on Delaware." Now should the case be so 
determined, if a Grant for this Land could be procured to the Society 
from his Majesty as a good Sum of Money might be raised from it 
not only at first but Annually so it might be a mean to enable them 
to carry on more effectually the good work for which they were in- 
corporated I am informed by one of the most intelligent of our As- 
semblymen here as the Representatives of the people in Legislature 
are called) that here are about 200,000 Acres of Land cleared & settled, 
here some settlers having titles from James late Duke of York, some 
from Lord Baltimore & others from Penn & his Heirs all supposed to 
be void in Law, because the Title of these Grants of Land is its self 
precarious. The inhabitants at present are very anxious about their 
Titles but would be glad to be settled in their possessions on a good 
Foundation and to have the Church their Landlord. I mean the 
majority at least who are members of the Church of England. Could 
such a grant be procured here money might be raised toward sup- 
porting a Suffragan (much needed in America) to maintain Mission- 
aries or to such Uses as the Society should judge most expedient. 
There is another affair which I also beg leave to lay before your 
Lordsp. Since Major Gordon's arrival here our present Governor, 
he hath Granted Marriage Licenses promisculously to us & to the 
Presbyterian Ministers, a thing never done before in this Goverment 
except only in the last year of Sr William Keith his predecessor when 
his Fortune in a manner grew desperate and he was wilUng by any 
means to raise Money. Or as he alleged because Dr. Welton was 
then Minister at Philada. to whom it was by no means proper they 
should be granted. The Missionaries here did at our last Convention 
in September humbly lay this Greivance before our Governor but he 
has refused to redress us in this point tho' it is the only one wherein 
it is in his power to favour us. If your Lordship will be pleased to 
write to him about this it may perhaps be a mean to bring him to 
our Interest as he professes himself a Member of the Church & will 
be a great favour done to the Missionaries. My Lord, I humbly beg 
your pardon for this trouble and your prayers for me & those under 
my care and remain 

May it please your Ldp. 

Your most dutiful & Obedt Son & Servant 

W. B., Missionary at Lewes. 
Pennsylvania, March 15, 1727-8. 

To Bro. jfno. on the death of Bro. James. 

Dear Brother. — I reed that Sorrowful Letter of yours on the 
Sth day of July which was dated on March 16th at Ollerton. The 
sad news of the Death of my dear Brother James was a severe stroke 
to me, he was nearest to me in age & consequently the longest 
Acqtance of all my brethren. He had been my constant play fellow 
and bedfellow from my childhood till I grew up. We have spent 
a great many pleasant days and hours together but now that satis- 
faction is over and we must see each others face no more. And we 
were not only brethren but Friends. I have often experienced his 
Friendship to me & I thank God I had always a hearty & brotherly 
affection for him. A thousand endearing instances occur to my 



190 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

mind of our being together the thoughts of which melt me into tears 
so yt I can scarce see to write. 

But what will perhaps greatly surprise you is this On Friday the 
second day of February last about four o'clock in the morning (as 
near as I can imagine) being in bed I dreamed that all the Teeth of 
my upper-jaw became loose upon which with my finger & thumb I 
took ym out & put them in my Pocket, immediately after which I 
thought I also felt all the Teeth in my under jaw loose & ready to 
drop out as the others upon which I also took ym out of my mouth 
& put ym in my pocket as I had done before with those of my upper 
jaw Upon which in my dream I made this reflexion to myself, What 
a great misfortune is this? That I who am now but 30 years of Age 
should loose all my teeth and be obliged to wear the face of an old 
man in the prime of my time. I then started and awoke out of my 
sleep in a great consternation & it immediately came into my memory 
that my Father has often told me that a little before his mother 
died (our Grandmother) he dreamed yt all his Teeth came out of his 
head, so yt I concluded with myself that my Mother or at least some 
near Relation was dead which I believed I should hear of in a little 
time. With the grief and trouble of this apprehension I arose out of 
my bed tho' it was before break of day in the morning not being 
able to compose myself any more & walked about the House very 
sorrowfully so great an impression the dream had made in my mind 
I put the time down in my Pocket Book & have ever since expected 
that the first Letter I should have from home would bring me Sorrow- 
ful News. Insomuch that when I reed your last it lay on the Table 
near an Hour before I had the Courage to open & look into it. 

You tell me in your Letter that our Bro dy'd on Friday the twelfth 
of February about 9 a' clock in the morning But this must needs be 
a mistake for the twelfth of February last did not happen on a Friday 
but on a Monday so that I believe tis only a mistake in your letter 
and yt he dy'd yt day and minute when I dreamed yt my teeth came 
out for when it is 9 a clock in the morning with you it is 4 a clock 
with us here There being about 5 hours difference of meridian between 
you & us. That is, it is 9 a clock here 5 hours after it is 9 with you, 
and so of the other Hours and the second of Feb was on a Friday 
which the 12th was not. 

I have been full & particular on this point because I look upon it 
to be extraordinary & surprising that I who was 4000 miles distance 
or near the matter at that very Instant should have notice that 
some great Calamity was fallen upon my Family, as I certainly con- 
cluded from the Dream I desire you will be exact when you write 
again & let me know whether I am any ways mistaken. 

Could I have been present at his Burial & have mingled my Tears 
with yours it might have given some Relief to my Sorrow by giving 
vent to it. And I might have paid my last Respects to the memory 
of my Broer by preaching his Funeral Sermon if my grief would 
have suffered it, but I beleive I should not have been able to do it, & 
I so sensibly feel the weight of my misfortune at this Distance that 
I perhaps could not have born it better or it may be not so well had 
I been present. Had I been there with you my tears could not have 
prolong'd his Life as now those which I shed for him here are rain & 
fruitless & cannot redeem him from the grave, for we are as water 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 191 

Split upon the ground & cannot be gathered up again as the Scripture 
speaks. It is our duty to submit to Providence in all its dispenser- 
tions the' they may be bitter to us yet since they are according to the 
Will of God we must submit. When our Heavenly Father corrects 
us we may & must feel the smart, but we ought not to murmur & 
repine And this harsh Providence ought to be a sufficient warning 
to us the surviving brethren to consider our latter end and to live 
virtuous & good lives for if the strongest & likeliest to have lived to 
Old Age is cut off & taken out of the World in the Flower of his Time 
What Assurance have we of the continuance of our Life? Particu- 
lary I ought to apply this advice to myself who am his eldest Bror 
& according to Nature ought to have gone before him to the grave, 
especially considering what different sorts of air I have breathed wch 
naturally contributes to shorten human Life. 

But God has been merciful to me & preserved me in good Health 
to this day, And I still hope to see you all before it be long I am 
exceedingly glad to hear of the safe recovery of my good mother and 
of the rest of you from your dangerous sickness & I pray for the 
continuance of your health I hope Bror John has well recovered of 
his Ague. You will give my duty to my dear Mother & love to Bros & 
Sister & my kind Respects to all Old Friends & neighbours, let me 
hear from you again as soon as may be & believe me ever to be 

Your most affect. Bror Wm. Becket. 

Lewes, Aug. 1, 1728. 

To Dr. Humphreys. 

Revd Sir. — I wrote to you the last Autumn acquainting you with 
the State of my Parish & giving you an Historical Account of it in 
Obedience to the Commands of the Honrable Society. I am uneasy 
till I hear whether you received that & my Letter in time. If it mis- 
carry'd pray let me know as soon as may be that I may send you a 
second Copy and so at least it may get a place in the second edition. 
The State of my Parish is much as usual the Persons baptized in it 
for some years past having been more than 80 and less than an hun- 
dred per Annum. But here it must be remembered that I have not 
been able to compute the certain number either of Adults or Infants 
which I have occasionally baptis'd in my travells both in this & the 
Neighbouring Provinces of Maryland particularly in Kent County 
upon Delaware, where I have several Times baptis'd near 20 persons 
in a day and where there is both, a very great want & desire of a Mis- 
sionary. 

The Number of Communicants in this County are increased con- 
siderably this year the Account in my book stands as follows. 

1729. 

At St. Peter's in Lewes at Christmas 19 

At St. George's on Easter Sunday 20 

At St. Matthew's on Whit Sunday 18 

57 

Since the receipts of the Sermons sent over to me by the Hon. 
Society (I mean those of Bp. Beveridge and the distribution of my 
Lord'Bp. of London's Letters to the Masters & Mistresses of families) 
I have with the Assistance & permission of their owners baptized 



192 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

seven negroes & have been apply'd to by some others who are not yet 
sufficiently instructed. 

In my last I wrote to you to request of the Hm. Society that they 
will be pleased to give me leave to come over to England the next 
Summer with a continuance of my Salary that I may have an Oppor- 
tunity of settling some Affairs of importance to me which cannot well 
be done in my Absence, and of seeing my Native Country once more 
& such of my Friends and Relations as the late Contagious Sickness 
in Cheshire hath yet left alive. Your favours in this Point will lay a 
great Obligation upon, 

Sir your very hum. Servt W. Becket. 

Lewes, May 29, 1729. 

To A. Hamilton Esq. 

Sr. — Several of my friends who have been at N Castle as members 
of Assembly the 2 or 3 last Sessions have been so kind as to tell me 
after what manner you thought fit to treat my Character behind my 
back, And as I am conscious to myself, & you know very well yt 
I never did you any injury or offered you any affront so I was sur- 
prized yt you should do anything so mean and so little becoming a 
Gentleman or a man in your Station. 

If it be just Sir to speak ill of a man yt never wrong'd you nor any 
friend of yours & to attempt to hurt a man's Interest that never 
offer'd nor design'd any Injury to you, then you acted as became you. 
For my part I never was taught till now, that hard names & oppro- 
brious language yt swearing and reviling at an Absent person befitted 
a Gentleman, I am sure that in the Country where you & I were bred 
these are called the language & manners of Porters & are thought to 
be very vulgar and indecent. 

Is it fit that the Speaker of an Assembly, the Recorder of a City, 
a Magistrate & a professed Orator of no small Reputation should thus 
descend to the language of men of the meanest Rank & lowest breed- 
ing. For the sake of Justice treat me Sir with more Candor & good 
Nature and as we say, do as you would be done by, I had almost 
desired you to treat me as a Xn but since you seem to renounce yt 
name pray treat me fairly & I desire no more. Reputation is a Jewel 
yt no man cares to be robbed of, and I doubt not but you know men 
who had rather have a fair Attack made upon their Lives than an 
unfair one upon their Reputations And I should be glad to see yt you 
would be unwilling to take yt fronn another which you would not 
part with yourself. 

If it be because of my Religion or Character yt you thus use me I 
am sure it is a way unsuitable to the King's or Wm. Penn's Govern- 
ment who would have no one ill used on these Accounts. And if you 
have imbraced principles different from mine I am of opinion yt they 
are not worth maintaining if they carry you beyond the bounds of 
Truth & Decency. 

I have herein dealt plainly and severely with you & I know you 
cannot justly blame me for it I submit the whole to yor own Judge- 
ment & Reflection & remain 

Sr. Your abused Frd & hum Servt 

Wm. Becket. 

Lewes, Nov. 26, 1729. 

Mr. Hamilton. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 193 

To Hen Brooke Esqr. 

The hum Petition & Address op Wm Becket in behalf of him- 
self & some other Inhabitants of the Town of Lewes. 1731. 
Sheweth: 

That Providence hath placed your Petitioners in a sort of Retire- 
ment in a great measure separated from the noise & bustle as well as 
from the News & Politicks of this World. 

That notwithstanding yor Sd Petitioners are pretty well content 
and do not greatly envy those who act in higher & more publick 
stations of Life when they consider among other things that the 
Audience in a Theatre have commonly greater pleasure than the 
Actors. That as yor Sd Petitioners desire no more yn to be lookers 
on & to observe how the Vim & the Busy part of mankind act their 
respective Parts so it is highly necessary that we should be furnished 
with the publick Xews both for our Instruction & entertainment. 

That it hath been observed that several Persons in the fetres of 
London & Westmr & other places in his Majs Dominions have looked 
upon ymselves as great Wits & Politicans only from that Store of 
Learning & useful Erudition which they have collected from the 
Publick Papers. 

That as yor Sd. Petitioners do not know when it may please the 
King to call upon some of them to act in great places of trust & profit 
which would be loath to refuse out of the great Zeal we have for his 
Maj's service & the welfare of his Subjects so we would not willingly 
be unfurnished with any sort of Learning & Knowledge yt might 
serve for so good a purpose. 

That in Order here unto some of yor Sd Petitioners have for several 
years last past been at considerable charges to gratifie ymselves & 
have constantly taken in Mr. Bradford's Mercury at the expense of 
Ten Shill p Annum. 

That besides the great Increase of necessary & useful Science which 
must have accru'd to ourselves upon this Account Great advantage 
must have arose from hence to the Publick Trade & Riches of this 
Colony in as much as we contributed our Share to employ many 
hands in the paper & printing Manufactures as by consulting learned 
Authors upon this Subject may more fully & at large appear. 

That notwithstanding yor Sd. Petitioners cannot look upon their 
reading & studies as compleat for want of a certain paper printed 
Weekly by one Mr. Franklin of Phila. If therefore you w'd be pleased 
to give orders yt the said papers may be sent down to us We doubt 
not but you will soon be a Witness of our great improvements in 
many parts of Useful Learning. 

And yor Sd Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c. 

The Rev. Mr. Bechet writes, September 2Sth, 1729, that 
one year ago he had taken charge of a fourth church, by- 
name St. John Baptist. 

The Rev. Hugh Neill to the Secretary of the S. P. G.:— 
"Dover, September 1, 1751. — I have since Mr. Ussher's 
departure, visited the County of Sussex several times, and 



194 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

find the two congregations in the country to be regular and 
numerous, but that in Lewestown appears to be small, I 
believe by reason of the Town going very much to decay. " 

1731. "From Pensylvania the Society have received 
the following Accounts: The Reverend Mr. Beckett, Mis- 
sionary at Lewes, writes. That his Parish is much in the 
same State as when he wrote last. There are now in that 
Country 4 Congregations at 4 Churches, 3 of which Con- 
gregations are very numerous. He writes, that he lately 
officiated at St. George's Chappel, which tho' it hath been 
very considerably enlarged since his coming there, was not 
now able to contain above one half of the Hearers. He 
baptized that Day S White Children, & 3 Negroes. He re- 
marks farther, that in about 6 Weeks time he had baptized 
in that Chappel, 10 White grown Persons, & 11 Negroes, 
besides a Considerable Number at the other Churches in 
this County. He adds farther, that he hopes it will appear 
from these Instances, that he hath been very diligent in 
his Mission, by promoting the Design of the Bishop of Lon- 
don's Letters, with regard to the Instruction of the Negroes 
in his Parish." 

1732. "From Pensylvania, the Society have received 
the following Accounts; The Reverend Mr. Beckett, Minister 
at Lewis Town, acquaints the Society, That during the 11 
Years which he hath been a Missionary, he hath constantly 
resided in his Mission, during which time, two new Churches 
had been built in that County, & two more which had been 
begun before his Arrival had been finished, so as to admit 
of the decent Performance of Publick Worship to Almighty 
God; that at each of these Places at times he hath con- 
stantly performed Divine Service upon all Sundays & Holi- 
days, reading Prayers, Preaching, Catechizing the Children, 
Administring the Sacraments, & he can with Comfort say 
with Good Success, that during his Mission, above a thousand 
Persons, old & young. White & black, have been instructed 
in the Christian Faith & baptized, & many Persons are con- 
stant Communicants." 

My Lord: — This is the first opportunity for London since I was 
honoured by your letter of September last. I never doubted but 
that my Commission was intended to be of the same extent with 
the Civil Government here, but then that it may be legally so, 
and is absolutely necessary that after the words Infra Provin- 
ciam Pensylvania should be added, Et Comitatus Novi Castri, 
Cantij & Sussesia Super Delaware, provided this be proper Law- 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 195 

Latin for the Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex upon Dela- 
ware. Our Lieutenants Governors Commission always mention 
these three Counties expressly after the province of Pensylvania, 
and by the Kings approbation they are appointed over the former 
Durante Beneplaicito, but over the latter without limitation. The 
right to these Counties is controverted not only between the Penn- 
family and Baltimore Ld. proprietor of Maryland, but the Crown 
(if I'm rightly informed) claims them as not granted to either of 
them, by their respective charters. Besides these counties have at 
present a different legislation, an assembly of their own, together 
with their own Judges & Courts of Justice. I'm sorry to give your 
Lordship so much trouble, but the design of the Commission can't 
be answered without the above addition, and some of the Clergy 
there at my last calUng them together signified to me by tlieir letters, 
that they did not think themselves obliged to meet me, seeing my 
Commission extended only to the Province of Pensylvania. 

As to Mr. Hackets aiiair, our Governor did prosecute him, and 
though as I'm told there was no law in these Counties to found the 
action on, yet he being frightened submitted to the Court, and was 
fined 60 Lib. Ster. I can't, however, think the payment will be in- 
sisted on. I return your Lordship's most hearty thanks for the 
reasonable present of your excellent Pastoral letters. I distributed 
them according to directions, and hope they will have a good effect 
to preserve many from being infected by the profane principles of 
some here in public offices. I beg your Lordship's Benediction, and 
only add that I ever am with profound respect. 

Your Lordship's Most Obedient servant, 

Archd. Cumming. 
Philadelphia, March 29th, 1732. 

To the Honourable Society for propagating the Gospel in foreignn Parts. 

The Humble Petition of William Becket Their Missionary 
AT Lewes in Pennsylvania Sheweth, 

That your humble Petition hath been Missionary to the Hon 
Society for the Space of Eleven years and hath resided constantly 
in the place of his Mission Ten Years & a half in Lewes, in Sussex 
County, during which time (blessed be God), 2 new Churches have 
been built in this County & 2 that were raised before the arrival of 
yor Petitioner have been carried on so as to admit of the decent wor- 
ship of A God in which places your Sd Petitioner hath given constant 
attendance alternately on Sundays & Hohdays in preaching praying 
catichising administering the Holy Sacraments & other duties of his 
Function with good Success insomuch that above 1000 people Old 
and young white & black have been instructed & baptized in the Sd 
County by yor Sd Petitioner and many persons are Communicants 
of the Ch. of England. & that here are more people professing them- 
selves members of the Sd Church than in any other County in the 
Government considered in proportion with Dissenters of all sorts 
that is to say, the Members of the Ch of England here are a great 
majority. 

That there was a Presbyterian Minister & a Quaker speaker in 
this County at the time of your Sd Petitioner's Arrival but they have 



196 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

both now left the place without sending any one to succeed them 
so that now there is not any Preacher of any persuasion in this County 
except your Sd Petitioner. 

That when your Petitioner had resided here for the space of 7 
years or there abouts, being earnestly desirous to see his native Coun- 
try once more and to settle some Affairs of his own there he did re- 
quest the Hon Society for leave to that purpose which leave was 
kindly granted by the Sd Society. 

But so it was that your Sd Petitioner could not as yet make use 
of the Indulgence granted him by the Sd Hon Society because yt 
no clergyman was to be procured to officiate in his absence & that 
upon many Accounts it would have been indiscreet & unsafe for yor 
Sd Petitioner to leave so great a Cure without any Pastor especially 
at such a juncture. 

Upon this weighty Consideration your Sd Petitioner hath been 
content to set aside his own particular Inclination & Business at 
Present that he might the better serve the Ch of God & promote the 
good designs of the Hon Society. 

That the labours & fatigues of yor Sd Petitioner have been very 
great in his Mission so yt some years besides performing the Offices 
of his Function he hath travelled at a moderate Computation 1632 
miles to promote tlie good designs of the Sd Society & in other years 
when his Task has been the easiest no less than 1156 miles, so yt he 
was always obliged to keep 2 horses which are very chargeable to 
be maintained in a Town your Sd Petitioner having not any Glebe 
or Farm to Maintain them upon. 

That the Parishoners of yor Sd Petitioner have been exceedingly 
kind to him during the whole time, by subscribing liberally towards 
his Support & maintenance (considering their poor circumstances) 
& by many other kind & good Offices, which has been a great en- 
couragement to your Petitioner in the midst of his Labour. That be- 
sides what is already mencioned they have at this Time done an 
extraordinary Act of Kindness to your Petitioner A good Farm being 
offered to sale of about 400 Acres of Land with a good House on it 
a good Orchard of near 1000 fruit Trees, a good Bam Frame with a 
Kitchen & out Houses abt 7 miles from Lewes. They have advised 
him to buy it & promised to assist him unanimously to pay for it, 
that he may be enable to secure a more certain support for his Family. 

And also yt no invitations from any neighbouring vacant Parishes 
in Virginia or Maryland (Many of which have been offered to him) 
may move him to leave them. Accordingly he hath joined them 
in a bargain with the Owner of the Sd Land &c the price to be paid 
for it is 270 pounds of this Currency. 160 pounds are to be pd 
down now, & 110 a year hence. Your venerable Board will see by 
a Copy of the Subscription which he has caused to be exemplified 
& sent over to you regularly attested how far the poor people of this 
parish were able to help your Petitioner in this Affair. A Testimony of 
their zeal for Religion & their Esteem for your Petitioner. 

But as Lewes is a chargeable place being a small Sea Port on the 
Mouth of the great River Delaware where all European goods are 
generally sold at near 200 pr cent advance in Short & for as much 
as your Petitioner hath a numerous Family to maintain viz a Wife 
& 4 Children & hath been often times in Charity obliged to entertain 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 197 

Ship -wrecked & distressed people as well as in CiviUty to entertain 
Gentlemen & Strangers of the Communion of the Ch of England 
especially, who occasionally resorted to the place, and as a Clergy- 
man must be given to hospitality as well as apt to teach Sr your 
Petitioner hath not been able to save any Money except only what 
may buy a Stock of Cattle & such Implements for Husbandry as are 
necessary upon a Farm & without wch it cannot turn to a profitable 
Account. Upon the whole your humble Petitioner desires the Hon 
Society to concur with his Parishoners in this Charitable Act that 
they will be pleased to bestow on your Petitioner something (what- 
ever they in their wisdom & goodness shall think proper) towards 
paying for the Farm on which he is now settled. Or if not yt they will 
be so good as to advance a years Salary for him on the 2Sth of March 
next (when the Purchase Money is to be paid) and 

Your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c. 
Apl. is, 1732. 

Letter to Dr. Humphreys. 

Reverend Sir. — I send you here with a Petition to the Hon Society 
which I must beg the favour of you to lay before the venerable board 
as also a copy of a subscription which my Parishoners have been so 
kind as to present me with, the better to enable me to buy a good 
Farm among them for my better settlement & support & that of my 
Family And I also shall send you a Map of Sussex County (my Parish) 
if I can get one truly and well drawn that so the Hon Society may the 
better judge of the inconvenience of my present situation with re- 
spect to the Several Churches here. When it is considered that the 
people here are generally poor, it will I doubt not appear to the Hon 
Society to be a very hberal Benefaction & yt I have not behaved 
myself iU among a people who are so desirous yt I should settle among 
them for life. If they could have raised money to have paid for the 
whole purchase ymselves, they did intend to have settled it as a Glebe 
for the use of the Societies Missionary for the time being. But money 
being exceedingly scarce here & they not able to advance the whole 
Sum, they have made me a present of what they could contribute. 
However if I die without issue (as God only knows what shall come 
to pass) I purpose in my last Will to bequeath it to the Hon Society. 

The Purchase Money according to the Bargain made is to be paid 
as follows: 160 lbs. of this Country Currency is to be paid down now 
at my Entry on the Sd Farm (it being about 100 lbs Sterl) and 110 
lbs Currency on the 2Sth day of March next being about 70 lbs Sterl. 

You will be so good Sr as to lay these matters before the Hon 
Society and to let me know their pleasure herein with convenient 
speed that so I may know how to prepare myself for the latter paym't 
above mentioned. 

The State of my Parish is much as usual so yt I do not need to trouble 
you with a particular Account of it at this time. Infidelity has spread 
much of late in some parts of this Government But (God be thanked) 
my Parish is pretty free from it. My Lord Bp. of London's letters &c 
have been of great use & service to Christianity in America, indeed 
every thing he writes is read here with great Esteem. We hear here 
yt some other of My Lds the Bishops & several other eminent Divines 
have employed their Pens in the Christian Cause, but being in this 



198 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Comer of the World I know not how to get any of them otherwise 
they would be of great use. My Parishoners are in great want of 
Ch Catechisms Prayer Books & Psalms of the New Version. That so 
they might bring up their Children more reUgiously. I remain 

Revd Sir Your Most Obedt & Most Hum Servt, 
Lewes, April 20th, 1732. Wm. Becket. 

To the Hon Patrick Gordan Esqr Govr of Pennsylvania &c. 

May it Please Yor Honour. — You have done me a great favour 
which you knew not of but which gratitude obliges me to acknowledge. 
The last year you were so kind as to recommend me in the handsomest 
manner to the late Governor of Maryland in order to procure me 
one of their best Parishes there. How I happen'd to be disappointed 
in that Affair I have already acquainted yor Honr. However your 
letter in my favour has at last had an effect more to my satisfaction 
& perhaps as much to my interest as if I had then succeeded — in the 
manner following. 

My Parishoners observing that if they did not provide a Glebe or 
a Farm for me I should before long be obliged to accept of some vacant 
Parish in Maryland or Virginia where sucli a convenience might be 
had the better to support my growing family & knowing yt living 
constantly in a small Town was very chargeable to me, & being 
unwilling to part with me, they have unanimously joined with me in 
the purchase of a good Country House & Plantation to be settled 
on me & my Heirs. The plantation we have bought & to which I 
am now moved did belong to Mr. Davis (one of the Magistrates of this 
County) the quantity of land is about 400 Acres, abt 8 miles from 
Lewes. The Sum to be paid for it is £270. Of which my Parishoners 
have raised by contribution £150. Here is a good House Garden & 
Out Houses, & about a thousand fruit trees of several sorts, so yt 
I look upon myself now to be settled for life. 

The situation of my new purchase is pleasant, & I hope will prove 
beautiful to my family, the Air is good & open in full view before my 
door lies Rehoboth Bay & the mouth of the Indian River well stored 
with excellent fish, cockles & Oysters Of which whenever you come 
down to Sussex 1 hope you will honor me so far as to take a taste. 

And as I am much obliged to your Honr for several favours & kind 
Offices which you always did for me in the most cheerful & handsome 
manner so I did believe it would not be disagreeable to you to hear 
of the effect of your last years Letter in my favour & of my settlement 
under your Government. I remain Sr with the greatest gratitude 
& Esteem 

Yor Honours most Obliged & Most Obedt Hum Servt 
Sussex, May 9, 1732. Wm. Becket. 

P. S. — My wife tells me there is a mocking bird sitting on 4 Eggs 
in a nest on a Joyce in our Barn. If your Lady or any of your daughters 
will accept of a couple of the the young ones when they are feathered 
& fit to be carry'd, I will send them up the River by a careful Hand. 
But then I must desire you to order a Cage to be sent down by Mr. 
Stretcher or Mr. Willbank for there is no such thing as getting a hand- 
some one here. 

N. B. — Wm. Warrington pd 2s 6 the last year more than his due. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 199 

Letter to Revd. Mr. Cummings. 

Dear & Revd Sir. — Your Letters in my favour the last year to 
the Govr & Commissary of Maryland tho' they had not the Effect 
you intended have had a good one since here. The people of my 
Parish (finding yt if they did not provide for me I should ere long 
be obliged to move to some vacant Parish where my family might 
■with more ease & less charge be supported have unanimously joined 
with me to purchase a good Plantation to be settled on me & my 
Heirs for ever, that so I may not be under any temptation to accept 
of any Maryland or Virginia Parish that may hereafter be offer'd 
to me. 

We have purchased abt 400 Acres of good Land (abt 8 miles dis- 
tant from Lewes) lying convenient enough for visiting the several 
Churches of this County. The purchase money is 270 lbs Currency. 
110 lbs is to be paid down 60 lb to the Land Office & 100 lb a year 
hence. My Parishoners have given me by Contribution £150 pounds 
towards the purchase -money (as you will see by a copy of their 
Subscription which I have inclos'd Upon this Plantation is a very 
good House & garden with good outhouses sufficient & upwards of 
a 1000 fruit trees of all sorts Rehoboth Bay, the Mouth of the Indian 
River and the Main Ocean lie in full view before my door. Here is 
plenty of fish of all sorts besides Shell Fish viz. Cockles Oysters & 
Crab Fish Abt 100 Acres of the land are cleared & improved the 
rest is all wood land, you may easily guess the late Owner is much 
in debt otherwise we should not have got such a bargain I mov'd my 
Family hither on the 30th day of March last and on the 25 th of April 
all the Magistrates except a Quaker & a Presbyterian Justice (it 
being my Birth day) came to see me & wish me joy of my settlement 
among them for Life so yt you find that the Ch & State agree here 
very well. The leading men among them have pressed me to accept 
of the next Commission of the Peace but I have refused it & will not 
accept of it if you think it improper for indeed the proper business of 
my Function is more than enough for me. Pray let me know your 
Opinion when you write. 

I leave it to your discretion whether it will be proper for you to let 
the Bp of London know of the generous present that my poor Par- 
ishoners have made me But pray let my good old Friend Mr Ross 
& Mr Hackett be acqted with the affair If you can excuse me from 
coming up the River to meet the Clergy (as usual) this Fall I shall 
take it as a great favour for I have a great sum to pay & none to 
Spend. If you have any papers to send home for the service of the 
Church let Mr Ross counterfeit my hand to them as he knows very 
well how I do and I shall be content. I remain Sr with the sincerest 
regard. 

Yor Most obliged & Most affect Bror & Most Hum Servt 

Wm. Becket. 
Petty Peover, May 10, 1732. 

P. S. My Hum Service & my Spouses to Mrs. Cummings, to 
Mr. Moore & his Lady to Mr & Mrs Evans, Mrs Newmain & to that 
High Flyer Mr. Ammaud &c. 



200 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Wednesday, July 28, 1736. 
To My Friend Dr. Chew. A Syllogism. 1736. 

1. Whatsoever is asserted in the New Testament is undoubtedly true. 

2. But the several Articles of the Athanasian Creed are derived from 
the N Testament. 

3. Therefore every Article of the Athanasian Creed is undoubtedly 
true. 

Sr.- — I promised you this Syllogism some years ago But did not 
think of it again till this Time Be so good as to pardon my forget- 
fulness You know Sir that most men are vain enough to imagine yt 
an Argumt that convinces themselves ought in Reason to convince 
others Whether this way of reasoning (as I call it) will have the same 
Effect upon you that it has upon me. I know not However let your 
own Reason judge for you, as it ought to do in all matters & beUeve 
me to be what I really am 

Sir yor most Obedt Hum Servt Wm. Becket. 

Lewes, July 28th, 1736. 

May it Please Your Honour. — I heard but the other day the 
day the agreable news of your Recovery from your late dangerous 
Indisposition And tlio' I live in so distant a Part of your Govemmt 
yet give me leave to say that both Duty gratitude and Affection 
prompt me to congratulate with you upon your Recovery and to 
wish you a long continuance of your Health and yt we may long be 
happy under mild & just Administration. I have no notions of a 
good Govemm but what suits with yours. My Tutors took care to 
instruct me that Honour & Honesty were the same Things That 
Truth & Candor are inseperable Companions of a Brave and a great 
mind That Falsehood & Lyeing proceed from Cowardice and mean- 
ness of Spirit. And that the refined Arts of Policy & Dissembhng 
are built upon a rotten Foundation. They generally break out in 
Slander and Calumny And the Authors of them are attended with 
Scorn & contempt. If Truth and Justice and Generosity are Vir- 
tues, If a due & impartial Administration & Execution of Laws 
(without the utmost Rigor & Severity) render a Governmt easy & 
secure, then we have no Reason to be dissatisfy'd with yours. These 
Sir without flattery are my Sentimts of your Administration & if it 
had pleased God to have called you out of the World I shd have 
thought it my Duty as far as my Narrow Sphere extends, to have 
done the same Justice to your Memory which I now do to your char- 
acter I beg leave with gratitude to remain 

Sr yor Honrs most Obedt Most Hum Servt 

Wm. Becket. 
Sussex, August 4, 1736. Govr. Gordon. 

N. B. He dy'd the day Following. 

Dy'd Aug. S, 1736. 
To The Memory of The Honourable Patrick Gordon Esqr late 
Govr of Pennsylvania & of the 3 Lower Counties on Del. 
Plain Generous Honest Merciful &. Brave 
Each Good Man's Patron; Dread of every Knave 
Wise without Craft; Corageous without Boast 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 201 

With thee these Useful Virtues we have lost 
Thy worth the British Hero Marlbro' knew 
Under whose Care thy rising Genius grew 
Tho' thou art gone thy Honour still remains 
By vaUent Deeds in many long Campagnes 
Our private thoughts thy Publick Virtues own 
If envy rail; yet still let this be known 
Thou brok'st no Promise sought no private End 
Adieu! Thou Best of Governours & Friends. 
Written Augt 14, 1736. 

Verses to the Memory of Henry Brooke Esq. who departed this 
Life on Friday Feb 6 and was burried in the Church at Philadelphia 
on Saturday Feb 7th 1735-6 — Printed in the Mercury. 

Dignum laude virum musa vetat more. 

Permit lamented Shade an humble Muse 
In lowely Strains, thy worthy Name to Use 
Thy Merit claim a Nobler Pen than mine 
In lays polite & lofty like to thine 
A Task so glorious Pope himself might try 
And paint thy virtues fair before our Eye 
In me my Grief supplies the want of Art 
And gratitude sincere as was thy Heart 
What useful Lessons did thy Virtues teach 
Their Circle compassed all in human Reach 
Thy Soul was uncorrupt, thy Genius "strong 
Thy Learning various in each different tongue 
In thee the Greek & Roman Knowledge shone 
Each Foreign modern language was thy own 
No Science left unsearched, no Art could flie 
Or scape the View of the discerning Eye 
Each bright Idea printed on the Brain 
Thy Memory Strong unerring did retain 
From that clear fountain he whoever drew 
Found all explained enforc'd improved anew 
Each well chose thought in beuteous order lay 
And clear Expression drove the Clouds away 
Well chosen words so plain so sweet so strong 
With Pleasure still we trac'd the Theme along 
So when thick Fogs obscure the fall of Day 
And men lament the absent Solar Ray 
The pitying Sun breaks thro' with glorious hght 
And Hills and Plains restores to Mortal Light 
Thy feet the paths of pure Religion trod 
Thy Soul a living Sacrifice to God 
No Affectation No abhorr'd Grimace 
With which the Hypocrite obscures his face 
Did 'eer thy Virtue or thy Honour stain 
Twas all sincere & upright just & plain 
■ Good Humour Manly Wit a generous mind 

' A Judgment strong a Fancy unconfin'd 



202 SOME RECORDS OP SUSSEX COUNTY. 

A Friend to Virtue and a Foe to Vice 
In all the conduct regularly nice 
Happy the future Age that once shall see 
In all respects a Parallell to thee 
Thy great Contempt of Riches did we find 
Give greater leisure to enrich thy mind 
Knowledge & Virtue; these were all thy store 
And to thy Talents still thou added'st more 
O ! couldst thou leave those Treasures to thy Friend 
Than Gold more precious should the Gift descend 
Yet still thy Bright Example shall remain 
Our minds the great Impression long retain 
From us thy Pattern never shall depart 
Twill raise the Mind, and rectifie the Heart. 
Written Mar 23d 1735-6 

Henry Brooks Esqr was the Queen's Collector at Lewes in 1703 — 
Vide Watsons Annals p. 258. 

Letter to Dr. Humphreys. 

Revd Sir. — 1. It is a good while since I wrote to you concerning 
the State of my Parish my last I think was a Letter of thanks to the 
Hon. Society for their kind & generous Present of 20th The Reason 
why I have not wrote oftner is because the Circumstances of my 
Parish are much in the main as they us'd to be Except what I am 
going to relate to you If the Society had not been so good as to send 
me ReUef so seasonably I knew not whether I should have been in 
the Church or the County Goal on Sundays But I do not blame my 
People for they are poor And tho' willing not able to do as they would. 
However now the danger is over I thank God and take Courage. 

2d. The last time I went to the distant part of my Parish about 
a Month ago, I preached at the Ch of St. John the Baptist on Satur- 
day 12' miles distant from my House And on Sunday the day fol- 
lowing at St. Matthews Ch 25 Miles distant At the former Ch I bap- 
tis'd 11 Children and at the other Ch 10 and administered the Euch- 
arist to 13 people. I visit those Churches about once a month and 
cannot do it oftner, they are at so great a distance. 

It is necessary also that I not only tell you the Success of my 
Labours but also the discouragements that we meet with who are 
your. Missionaries and I think this pretty common to us all. The 
Infidells or Deists (for they do not differ much here) under the Pro- 
tection of a Quaker Influence have taught even the Common People, 
to call in Question not only the Reasonableness of Faith but the 
Truth of Fact in the O & N Testament So yt a great deal of our Con- 
versation with them must necessarily turn upon proper Arguments 
to convince them of the Fallacy. You will easily guess by what I 
have wrote that our Task at this Time is as hard as the Infidells can 
make it. 

P. S. Our Governour dy'd the 5th of this month. We have had 
very great Assistance from the Pastoral Lters of our Bishop among the 
the Few Learned & Well bred and discreet people that we have among 
us If there are any short and plain Treatises on the Subject published 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 203 

which are suited to the Capacitys of the meanest of the People (such 
as my Parishoners generally are) I would earnestly beg some Copies 
to be distributed among ym. I desire to remain always 

Revd Sir Your most Obedt & most Hum Sert 

Wm. Becket. 
Aug 25 1736. 

Great Good & Just could I but rate 

My Grief and thy too rigid Fate 

I'de weep the World to such a Strain 

As it should deluge once again 

But since thy loud tongu'd blood demands supplies 

More from Brareus' hands than Argus' Eyes 

I'le sing the Obsequies with Trumpets sounds 

And write thy Epitaph with blood & Wounds. 

Written by the Marquss of Montross on the Sands of Leith with 
the Point of his Sword 1648. Transcribed from Mr. Bickley August 
25 1736. 

Memorandum.' 

The Revd Mr. William Black Rector of the Church in Accomack 
County in Virginia came the first Missionary to Lewes in Sussex 
Co. in Pennsylvania July 26 1708 and left the Mission in the Month 
of May 1709. 

WilUam Becket Missionary left London June 11 and arrived at 
Lewes Sepr 1st 1721 Bom at Over Peover in Cheshire April 25 1697 
The Son of John & Mary Becket. 

Written Sepr 25 1736. 

Sir. — I rec'd your very kind and handsome Lre some time ago. 
In answer of mine to the Govr who I heard was upon the Recovery 
I am sorry for the loss of your Family & yt of the Province. But 
he is gone and to speak in the Military language has march 'd off with 
Honour. 

Or to express it in a graver Stile He is gone to the Spirits of just men 
made perfect I have sent you all the marriage Bonds I have by me 
(except one taken at the Marriage of Mr. Fenwick Stretcher which 
I have mislaid & cannot now find but will send it to you as soon as 
I Ught on it.) And I have sent you also 6 Blanck Bonds & Licences, 
the Bonds I have sent you filled up are in Number 17. 

I have sent you my Account some Time ago, and I think that there 
are but 2 articles to be added to it viz £5 paid to Mr. Shaw March 12 
1734/5 and paid also to him on your Acct. May 8 1736 £2 10s. Od. 
which I have Receipts for, when you have added these to my Credit 
you will readily find how the Acct Stands. 

I am sorry I had not the Opportunity of Granting the Blanck ones 
I send you back but the Govrs death prevented me. 

The new Licences from our worthy President dont please me. 
They are not in the usual Stile nor directed to a Clergyman nor ac- 
cording to the Common Law and are lodg'd in the hands of Laymen. 
And we all know that it is but matter of Courtesy to make use of them. 
And I suppose the Clergy will bear it without complaining Home. 



204 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Because as the Scripture Sais, His Time is short. I beg the favour 
of you to make my Service acceptable to the Propr to your good Lady 
And all the Govrs Family and believe me to be 

Sr. Yor most obliged & most hum Sert 
Dec 14 1736. Wm. Bbcket. 

Me. Secretary Charles. 

Written on Thursday Apr 21, 1737 In a dangerous fit of Sickness. 

I have taken several repeated bad colds the Winter past which 
occasioned a great constant Hoarsness so that I could scarcely be 
heard to read Prayers or preach, I took a journey to New Castle about 
New Years day which increas'd my Malady The Cold being very 
severe. 

Mar. 19. I was wet to the Skin in a cold Rain after having felt 
a Pleuritic Pain in my right Side a Week whenever I cough'd. 

Monday Mar 21. I was seiz'd with violent Vomiting & bleeding 
at the mouth the Shock having burst an Artery or a Vein Dr Fisher 
applied & administred several Remedies as Stypticks Emollients &c 
But on Tuesday Apl 19 Was oblig'd to take from me at least 24 oz of 
Blood. I am now under a Rule of Fasting, but in a weak Condition. 

Misere mei domine & uxoris & liberorum & Jesum Christum Med- 
icum Animae & Corporis maximum, Amen. 

Written on St Georges Day Apl 23 being Saturday in the latter 
end of the 40 year of my age. 

Me adhuc egroto & acre perfrigido 

Non adhuc recit ver vix signum verio. 

Written on my Birth Day Apl 25 1737 being exactly 40 years of 
age I was bom at Over Peover in Cheshire on Sunday at noon St 
Marks day Anno 1697. 

Written on Saturday Apl 29, 1738 

I was 41 Years of Age 4 days ago, I recovered of my above men- 
coned Malady in May last. Laus Deo soli. The Spring is forward 
The trees loaded with Leaves and Blossoms & the Earth cloathed 
with Grass this 29 Apl 1738 Nora. Penna. 

Written on my Birthday Apl 25 1741 Aged 44 years Bona salute 
Laus Deo. 

Address of the Clergy to Governor Thomas. 

May it Please yor Honr. — We the Clergy of the Ch of England 
Hcens'd for the Province of Pennsylvania beg leave to take this Op- 
portunity of congratulating you upon your being appointed Governor 
of the Province of Pennsylvania & of the 3 Lower Counties on Dela- 
ware, and upon your safe arrival among us. We have no reason to 
doubt from your known Character of Justice & Integrity but yt you 
will encourage & protect us in the due discharge of our Sacred Function 
as your Worthy Predecessors have done to whose memory we owe 
all just gratitude and we doubt not of being happy under your wise 
and mild Administration as we have been under theirs We declare 
ourselves to be sincerely attatched to the British Constitution both 
in Church & State and to the present Happy Establishmt We have no 
private designs in view. No particular Faction to carry on. No party 
to promote in contradiction to the Laws, and the British Government 
and we hope those cannot be accounted the worst Subjects who readily 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 205 

embrace every part of our Happy Constitution. Our Duty is un- 
doubtedly to pray for the King as Supreme, and for Governors as 
them yt are sent by him for -the Punishment of Evil doers & the praise 
of them that do well. To promote the Xn Rel by serving God with 
discretion as well as zeal. To promote the Happiness of our Governor 
by teaching the people under our Care the duty they owe to those 
whom God has placed in Authority over them and to instruct them 
to live quiet & peaceable Lives in all Godliness & Honesty. 

This Sr with the Devine Blessing and Assistance shall be the Con- 
stant care & Indeavor of 

Yor Honours Most Obedt & Most Hum Servts 
Lewes-Town, July 30, 1737. 

Letter to Dr. Humphreys. 

. Revd Sir. — It is very fit that I give you an Acct of the State of 
my Parish not having troubled you with a letter for some consider- 
able Time past. The Reason whereof is yt in general our religious 
Affairs are in a good measure in a Prosperous Condition Besides that 
in the beginning of the year I was visited with a dangerous Pleurisie 
which confined me to my house for 8 weeks and it was generally be- 
lieved would have carry'd me off. But God was merciful to me & 
has restored me to my former State of Health, so yt I have been able 
for 2 months past to attend the duties of my Mission as usual. I con- 
tracted this disease by too adventerously exposing myself to. the 
severities of a very Cold Winter Season in distant parts of the County 
where the Hon Society has placed me. We having 4 Churches & 
large Congregations yt zealously attend the Worship of God, I thought 
it would be a shame for the Priest to stay at Home notwithstanding 
the Rigor of the Season when the people show'd so much zeal & read- 
iness to attend the Service of God. 

To give you one Short Instance of the Success of my Labours thro' 
the Blessing of God, In the last Month (July) I baptis'd in the several 
Churches of this County 41 children which is no extraordinary number 
for the Time in a Summer Season. On the last Sunday but one I 
baptiz'd 12 children of the above Number On Whitsunday last 
at one of my Churches I had 2 1 Communicants. During the time of 
my Sickness for 3 Sundays I was utterly unable to do any thing the 
rest of the Sabbaths I was able to read Prayers & a Sermon of some 
Devine on that day when my Parishoners came to my House to visit 
me. During wch time I baptiz'd several Infants & 3 Adults. 

There is no Missionary nor Clergyman of the Ch of England within 
60 miles distant from Lewes so yt in my troubles, I have been called 
on in my journeys to baptize whole Families several Times. We 
labour under only 2 discouragements here. The first is (only) from 
our own People who tho' they freely attend Divine Worship yet are 
hardly induced to subscribe towards our Maintenance And (the second 
is) when they have subscrib'd they are hardly brought to pay us 
without a Law Suit which is a Remedy yt we apprehend might prob- 
ably obstruct the good intents of our Mission & therefore is seldom 
made use of. 

The second is Our Governmt is under the Influence of the Quakers, 
And as our President has taken upon him (as our Governors did 



206 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

formerly) to grant Marriage Licences so he has contrary to former 
usage lodg'd them in the Hands of Laymen of his own kidney or 
under his Immediate Influence To whom we are obliged to apply 
with much Ceremony and no small charge to our Parishouers to ob- 
tain a Marriage Licence I need to say no more on this Head than to 
desire to compare their avow'd Principles & Practices on this Point 
We find no Cause for this Evil but Patience. To prevent being 
further tedious I have no more to add but that I beg leave to remain 

Reverend Sr 
Your most Obliged & most Obed Servt 

Wm. Bbcket. 
Lewes, Aug 2d, 1737. 

Letter to the Deputy Governor of New York. 

May it Please Your Honr. — I have had several Letters from Mr. 
Harrison Missionary at Staten Island proposing an exchang of Mis- 
sion between himself and me and yt we should join our Interests 
together to obtain leave of the Hon Society to grant & confirm the 
exchange As I have not the Honr to be of your Acqtance so I must 
beg leave before I ask a Favour to introduce myself to you by saying 
That I am Mr Brookes (your Kinsman's) Countryman That I was his 
most intimate Companion & Friend That he used humourously to 
call me his Confessor that he lodg'd & dieted in my House for some 
years, & 5rt he testified his Respect for me in his Last Will by leaving 
me his sole Heir & chief Extor. 

When I have sd this I know yt I need to say no more to recommend 
me to some share of your Favour Mr. Abraham De Payster (the Tall) 
can assure you of the Truth of most of these Particulars. 

And now Sr the favour which I would beg of you is That you would 
be pleased to Assist me with your Interest & Influence to promote 
the exchange of my Mission from Lewes to Staten Island I have no 
reason to desire it but that I live on a Country Plantation where I 
and my Family cannot have our Health as we have found by 5 years 
woeful experience In order to promote this Design I will wait upon 
you at N York as soon as the Spring opens if you are pleased to 
approve of it Be so good Sr as to Direct your Secretary to write 
me your Sentiments on the Subject for I shall not stir in it without 
your Consent & be pleased to acqt Mr. Commissary Vesey with the 
affair if you think proper Be pleased to give my Hum Service to 
your Lady & Miss Penelope tho' unknown (for they are both of my 
own Native Country Cheshire) and give me leave to say that I shall 
always remain 

Sr Yor most Obedt & most Hum Servt W. B. 

I will bring the Res of you & your Lady formerly wrote to Mr 
Brooke. 

Mar 18, 1737-8 

Lettr To the Rev. Mr. Harrison. 

Dear Bror Harrison. — I was sick almost to Death when you 
wrote to me about the Exchange of our Parishes and cou'd not give 
you a satisfactory Ansr till now that I am got Hearty & strong again 
and now you may expect to see me at York very soon when the Spring 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 207 

opens if the Govr to whom I have wrote this day approves of the 
affair and my design is to act intirely in concert with you .1 met 
accidentally in Octr last at New Castle with the late Dean Berkley's 
Bror (the Dean is now Bp of Cloyne in Ireland) to whom I communi- 
cated the Affair He approves of the Exchange and has promised to 
faciUtate it by writing to my Lord his Brother so yt we shall hardly 
meet with any difficulty in the fase For the remainder I beg leave 
to recommend you to the perusal of what I have this day wrote to 
your Governor. And as you will probably see me very soon so I 
need to say no more at prest but yt I am no Changeling But 

Sr Yor old Friend & Bror & Hum Servt W. B. 

Mar. 18, 1737-8. 

Be pleased to write to me specially. 

Letter to Dr. Humphreys. 

Reverend Sr.— My last Letter to you contained in part an Acct 
of my Indisposition the last year which brought me very near the 
Grave This will bring you an account of my Recovery & yt I have 
been able thro' the Divine Blessing to perform the Duties of my 
Function the whole year past at the Several Churches of this County 
alternately as usual I have not laboured in Vain & thank God The 4 
Churches of ys County have generally in good weather full Congrega- 
tions I seldom baptize in one Sunday less than Three often six and 
sometimes more. I have at one Church 30 at another about 20 and 
at another 1 2 Communicants the last time I administred the Euchar- 
ist at the several Churches (For one of our Structures is a poor 
small Chappel lately built & inconvenient for that purpose.) The 
people are generally poor, wilUng but few of them able to contribute 
any thing to my support. But the Country-born as the People here 
call themselves are generally Professors of the Ch of England and are 
little inclined to either Bigottry or Enthusiasm. Quakerism decays 
strangely even in this Province the Nursery of it only for want of 
Opposition The Missionaries here are generally of Opinion That let 
it alone & it will die of itsself We study to be great & to mind our 
own Business. After having given you this brief Acct of the state of 
my Parish I must desire leave to lay before you and by your Means 
lay before the Hon Society a particular Case and beg leave yt it may 
be considered by way of Petition. The Revd Mr Harrison Missionary 
at Staten Island has often by letter desired me to soUicit from the Hon 
Society an Exchange of Missions between him & myself. The Reasons 
he gives me for it is some Uneasiness between himself & his Parishon- 
ers besides yt as this is a very private Corner of the World he desires to 
end his Days in Retirement being now about the Age of Sixty. The 
Reasons I have to beg leave to Accept of the Exchange are that I 
found by Eleven Years Experience that as Lewes was too changeable 
a place to support my Numerous Family so since I mov'd back into 
the Woods myself nor Family have never had our Health so well as 
usual. Tho' the Land be good yet it is situate among Swamps & 
Marshes Lewes Town which is a healthy place with the Hon Societies 
Salary will very well support a Single Person as He is But it is hard to 
subsist a Family. European goods being generally sold there at 300 
^ Cent. The Church People of Staten Island as well as the Leiuten- 



208 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

ant Govr of N York are as I am well informed willing that the Ex- 
change should be made if the Hon Society thinks fit. More especially 
because they want a man of Learning to assist in the Education of 
their Sons {Absit arrogantia verba) the Parents being some of them 
rich and not only able but willing to be at the Expence of as good an 
Education as may be had for their Children. If the Hon Society 
judges that this AfEair will be of any Service to Learning & Rel as 
well as to my Health & Interest I know they will grant the Prayer of 
my Petition. If not I must acquiesce. I desire always to remain 
Revd Sir Yor Most ObUged & Most Obedt Hum Servt 

Wm Becket. 
Lewes, March 29, 1738 

1738. — "The Reverend Mr. Becket, Minister at Lewis, 
writes April 22, 1738 That he was recovered from a very 
dangerous Illness; & through the Divine Blessing enabled 
to perform the Duties of his Function, & had not laboured 
in vain, the four churches in that County having generally 
full Congregations; and on Sundays he seldom baptizeth 
less than three, sometimes four, sometimes six; & hath at 
one Church thirty, at another twenty, & at a third twelve 
Communicants; that the Country-born People, as they call 
themselves, are generally Members of the Church of Eng- 
land; & Quakerism decays strangely, even in that Province 
designed to be the Nursery of it. He adds they have no 
Bibles but of the smaller Prints, & desires the Society 
to bestow on him one of the larger Print, & on his Con- 
gregation some Common Prayer-Books & Catechisms. 
The Society hath sent Mr Becket a Quarto Bible for him- 
self fifty of Lewis's Exposition of the Church Catechism, to 
be distributed among his poor Parishioners." 

PUBLIUS LeNTULUS THE PrOCONSUL FROM JERUSALEM TO THE 

Senate op Rome. — Translated from Jean Huartes Feb 

22d, 1724-S. 

There has appeared in our days a man who is yet alive and furnished 
with the greatest Virtue called Jesus Christ whom the People name 
the Prophet of Truth and his disciples say that he is the Son of God. 
He raises the dead and heals the sick. His person is of a middle 
stature and strait & very agreable to sight. His visage is so venerable 
that those who look upon it are equally disposed to love & fear him. 
His Hairs are of the Colour of a Ripe Filbert and fall plain as far as 
his Ears and from thence to his Shoulders they are of the Colour of 
Wax but much brighter. From the middle of his forehead along the 
Top of his Head, his Hair is parted after the Fashion of the Nazarenes. 
His Forehead is smooth and most serene. His Pace is without wrinkle 
or Spot of a Moderate Colour. For his Mouth and Nose there is no 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 209 

fault to be found with 'em. His beard is thick and like his Hair Its 
not overlong and grows forcke'd or parted in the Midst. His look is 
exceedingly sweet and Grave. His eyes piercing & very lively. When 
he reproves, he gives Terror, & pleases when he admonishes. He 
makes himself belov'd. He is gay with gravity. Never has he been 
seen to laugh but often to weep. His hands and arms are extremely 
handsome. He pleases much in conversation But uses it rarely. And 
when he appears with great Modesty. In a word in his whole air and 
behaviour he is the loveliest man that can be imagin'd. 

Transcribed from Mr. Brooke's Translation, May 16, 1739. 

To Mr. Whitefield. 

Revd Sr. — I rec'd your Pacquet & the Money & I thank you for 
your printed Pamphlets with the same degree of Sincerity which in- 
duced me to thank you for your Sermon. I am sorry Mr Grant pays 
his Debts with so ill a grace, to pay a debt and yet to use reviling 
language at the same time little [ ] of a Xn Spirit As 

to his accusing me before your Tribunal of Drunkenness I not only 
deny the Charge in General but his in a most particular manner. He 
is an open Lyar and I do assure you that I never drank a Bottle of 
Wine nor a Bowl of Punch (yt wicked Liquor as you term it) in com- 
pany with him nor with any such paltry fellows in my Life, And us 
to himself I do certifie to you that he never was a common Drunkard 
to my Knowl' only he has a mind to creep up your Revd sleeve. But 
in these slanderous cases I always judge yt the Receiver is as bad as 
the Thief I heard a scandalous Storey of you in Lewes a fortnight 
before you arrived here publickly asserted yt you had kept a Girl in 
Man's Cloathes during your Travels to sleep with you & had now 
Shipt her off for England when you were blown. This Story was 
supprest'd as much as lay in us, by me & the rest of the Company out 
of Xn Charity a Doctrine wch I find you leave out of all your Sermons 
I have now done' with being serious with you. But now to enter into 
the Rediculous part of your Doctrine & Conduct Your fathering Adams 
Sin upon us, your damning infants of a Span long, your accusing the 
Justice & Mercy of God by absolute Predestination, Your Inward 
feelings, wch are no evidence to any one (besides your self) your 
Faith without good works, your want of Xn Charity & damning like 
a Pirate (in the Xn Ch), all but yourself & your crazy followers. Your 
preaching against Xn Morality, your leaving my Church to go & 
preach in an open Balcony and to act the Mountebank when there 
was no occasion for it even after you had thrown about you Hell 
& Damnation Fire & Brimstone enough to have burnt a Wooden 
Frame As these and many more things were ridiculous, so I pardon 
you As to your empty censures, kicking about the Revd Dust of 
Dr. Tillotson above 40 years after his decease & your open abuses 
■of our Revd Bishop yt now is. These things look like the highest 
Impudence. I conclude that Enthusiasm is a Sort of Wild fire yt 
leads men into Ponds & Ditches and for all yt the muddy fellows 
think they are in a good Road It will make men censorious & busy 
bodies and always disturbers of the publick peace & tranquillity. 
But this takes only with the Mob not by any means with men of a 
good understanding However when your beard is grown & your 



210 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

judgm't settled I still hope you will burn yor own works rather than 
Tillotsons & this I assure you will highly oblige. 

Sr Yor Hum Servt Wm Becket. 

June 9, 1740. 

P. S. — I cannot think you intended me an act of civility by yor 
Papers & Letters since you boasted to Capt Howell & your Crew con- 
cerning what you wrote to me &c. I rather take it to be the effect 
of your Spiritual Pride & Self.conceitedness. 

Letter to Mr. Franklin in defence of Dr. Tillotson. 

Sr. — As you have the Reputation of a man of candor, and do not 
make your Press the Engine of any particular Party you are desired 
to print these few lines in yor Gazette Which are a brief Refutation 
of what Mr. Whitefield has published agt A. B. Tillotson in his 3 letters. 

The A. B. sais yt all yt the Gospel requires as necessary to these 
purposes {i. e. to mans justification & Salvation) is yt we perform 
the Conditions of the Gospel yt so we may be capable of Being made 
Partakers of the Blessings of it. And yet Mr Whitefield in a few 
Lines after in the same Lre sais, Here is not a Word menconed about 
the All-sufficient perfect & everlasting Righteousness & death of 
Jesus Christ as being the sole Cause & Condition of our being accepted 
by the Father Tis true indeed the A. B has not sd it in these very 
words but what He sais above is testamunt & comprehends it. 

Is not Faith in Jesus Christ one of the conditions which the Gospel 
requires of us, in order to Salvation? The A B speaks in General & 
this Revd Gentleman only mencons one particular which is compre- 
hended in his Grace's General assertion. 

Is not beUeving in J C. one of the conditions of the Gospel? And 
does not he that affirms the whole affirmi every particular part? So 
yt instead of refuting the A. B. he hath only refuted & exposed 
himself. 

Faith is not all that the Gospel requires of us it is only one 
particular Condition of our Salvation. 

This is the main Error that runs thro his Letters As to Dr Edwards, 
I have nothing to say of him He is dead, let him rest. 

I am always concem'd at abusive language especially from a clergy- 
man. But am still of Opinion yt the Reputation of Him whom he calls 
the Goliah of the Philistines But should have rather called the Great 
Champion of the Protestant Religion stands yet firm & unshaken, 

I am Sr Yor hum Servt. 
AuGT 26. 1740 B. 

From the Mlerc^iry of Augt 14, 1740 

The Congratulations humbly addressed to the Revd Mr Whitefield 
on his 68 preachments in 40 days, with the great & visible Effects of 
Meat & Money yt ensue'd therefrom. 

Great Miracle of Modesty & Sense 
Recount thy Prayers & recking up thy pence 
Secure while these you tell & those you show 
To meet yor great Reward, at least below 
But waring lesser points for solid things 
j _ We find from whence thy Cash & Credit springs 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 211 

.• How Pitious nonsense works on Knaves thy Tools, 

When duely touched by corresponding Fools, 

Scepticks no more contest thy pious Arts 
'' Of crazing Noodles & of Cobbling Hearts, 

'- When such amazing Prodigies arize 

And Sin & Folly make us good & Wise 

We see the Holy Proselytes expose 

Their meekness Truth & Charity in prose 

While in their Matchless Poetry is shown 

Genius & Sense not much unlike thy own. 

Letter to Governor Thomas. 

May it Please Yor Honr. — I ought to ask yor Pardon for not wait- 
ing on you when I was in Philada The Reason was I heard you were 
very busy preparing to fit out the Troops. Your Assembly was 
sitting & other Matters & as for me I had but 4 days stay in Town. 
Pray Sr let these things and your good Nature plead my Excuse. 
There is another matter too in the case, I cou'd not sell my Bills of 
Exche & therefore cou'd not settle with your Secretaries Office for the 
Licences I had granted as I intended But this I think was rather a 
Misfortune than a Fault. But give me leave Sr to say that it was not 
Disrespect or Undutifulness that was the cause. I was well acquainted 
some years ago with your Character before you were my Govr from 
my Old Friend Mr. Brooke and I have lived to see what he said of you 
made good in your conduct since you were my Governor. A man 
must be very dull not to observe how much you were Supreme to an 
Obstinate Assembly by your Arguments And now by your Courage 
& Constancy maugre all opposition you fitted out your Quota of Troops 
for the Kings Service. And at the Same Time give me leave to say 
that I am glad that our Men of the 3 Lower Counties at least did their 
Part. Somebody has told me that our Great Men from Lewes as 
they call them, have given me a very bad Character to you. Men 
that rather insult than govern this County & that have turned all 
tilings upside down. Mr. Brooke is dead Mr. Till is moved and now 
the poor Parson is to be demolished. But not to meddle with Poli- 
ticks wch is not my Province I am going to acqt you with the State 
of Rel here, Tho' my Churches are as full as ever yet Mr. Whitefield 
has dropt some of his Enthusiastic Venom at Lewes I have not been 
there this fortnight the Weather is so bad. But they have set up a 
Society in my absence I ask'd the Man that told me this what was the 
meaning of a Society. He told me they were to meet to sing Psalms 
& Hymns &c twice a week. There is no harm in the Affair, if there 
be no counter plot. But I cannot forbear suspecting that Whitefield 
& Tools have laid these Schemes all over America, to draw People to a 
dislike of our Church Doctrine Discipline & Government But Sr what- 
ever Enthusiasts do or endeavor to do, let us stand fast to the Consti- 
tution convey'd down to us from our Forefathers both in Church & 
State. Let us not tear it to pieces but endeavor each Man in his 
Station to Support it. This is the sincere wish & shall always be the 
Endeavour of Sr 

Yor most Obedt & Most dutiful Hum Servt 

Jan 2, 1741 Wm Becket 



212 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

As to News I beg leave to refer you to a Letter I have wrote to 
Mr. Till. 

Rbvd Sir. — I was very sorry to hear from Mr. Commissary Cum- 
mings when I was at Phila in Oct last that the Letters & Parochial 
Acct of the Missionaries here were not come to your Hands. I never 
since I had your Orders neglected to write But tis probable My Letter 
came by some Vessel that fell into the Hands of an Enemy of which 
we have too many Instances here or Miscarry'd some other way. I 
find in my Note Book this Memm. Notitia Paroch-alis &c. Missa ad 
Philad Apl 30. 1740, Pro Anno precterito. It is scarce practicable 
that I should send to you so often as I ought being placed about 150 
Miles from Philada our nearest Point yt trades to London but I shall 
not fail to do it as often as I can Mr. Commissary C. has my last Half 
Years Notitia &c to send to ^^ou. 

The State of my Parish is somewhat changed from what it was, 
Tho' my Churches are as full on Sunday's as ever Mr. Whitefield 
having rambled over North America the last years, has with his 
Enthusiastic Notions very much disturb'd the minds of abundance 
of weak but perhaps well minded People by endeavoring to root out 
the respect which they had Entertained of the Church Service &c. 
He has Encouraged his Tools to set up Religious Societies as he calls 
them wherever he can. There is one at Lewes composed of some ch. 
People some Presbyterians & some Quakers, who meet twice a week. 
And many people are perpetually wrangling & disputing about Relig- 
ion, I found his Industry this way had the same effect in many places 
where I preached the last Fall, for I travelled in Oct & Novr Last 
above 500 Miles & it was very visible in most places that where good 
seed had been Sown he had scattered Tares, so that what between 
Infidelity and Lukewarmness & Enthusiasm you may easily guess at 
the fluctuating State of Religion in many parts of our Colonies. I 
got but one copy of our Bishop's last excellent Pastoral Letter, but 
could heartily wish that I had some to distribute The Missionaries 
however are resolved to attend on their respective Churches carefully, 
and to wait the Event of these things with Xn patience We at first 
entertained him as a Bror. But when We perceived his design & looked 
upon him with an Air of Indifferency, he foresook both our Church & 
the Liturgy & has been a Field Preacher here as in England ever since. 

I beg leave to remain Revd Sr yor most Obedt Hum Servt, 

Wm Becket 
Lewes, March 4, 1740-1. 

It ought here to be remembered that our Govr & the Magistrates 
do not encourage Mr. W's unaccountable proceedings. 

1740. — "The Reverend Mr. Becket, Missionary at Lewes 
in Sussex County, writes by a Letter dated June 11, 1740, 
That his People are constant Attendants on Divine Wor- 
ship, insomuch that on Sundays more of them generally 
come to the Churches than they can contain: & that the 
Inhabitants of the upper Part of the County had petitioned 
the Society for a second Missionary, upon a most true alle- 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 213 

gation, that the four churches, each at a considerable dis- 
tance from the other, in the County, are too much for him 
to attend; tho' he doth his best, & officiates once on a Sun- 
day in every three weeks in three of them, & once in the 
middle of every week in the Church near the Center of the 
County. But by the great Fatigues resulting hence, he hath 
often contracted severe Illnesses, & begins now to grow in 
years; however, thro' the Blessing of God, he will go on 
chearfully to do what he is able in the Performance of his 
Duty in this great Cure, until the Society shall be pleased to 
appoint a second Missionary to it. It is not without very 
great Regret, that the Society hath found themselves obliged 
not to comply with this very reasonable Request for the 
present, thro' the very low Estate of their Cash. Mr. 
Becket hath baptized from the 30th of April 1739, to the 
30th of April 1740, one hundred and eighteen Infants, & 
seven Adults, and the Number of his Communicants are 
generally about fifty." 

Letter to the Secretary of the Society. 

Revd. Sr. — Accding to your instructions I now send you my 
Notitia But my Mission being ISO miles from any Sea Port trading 
to England it is impracticable for me to take a Sea Capts Receipt 
however I keep Copies of all the transactions you recommended. 

I can with great Pleasure now inform j^ou that we ha\-e lately 
finished the inside of our Church at Lewes with a good plain Wainscot 
the Roof is arched & we intend to paint it. This considering the 
Peoples poverty & the great scarcity of money is no small piece of 
work in this place. In the month of May last when I went to visit 
2 of the most distant Churches in this County I baptized 57 children 
in two days time and in a comer of Maryland near me where I went 
to visit the people at their request in one day I baptized 9 children. 

Thus Sr the good Designs of the Society by the Blessing of God 
prosper in our Hands. But not without opposition This puts me 
in mind of the Parable But when the Blade was sprung up & brought 
forth fruit yn appeared the Tares also. So the Servt of the House- 
holder came & said to him Sr didst thou not sow good seed in the 
Field from whence then hath it Tares — To apply this — Mr. White- 
field hath done more mischief in America by reviling the Clergy & 
misrepresenting Xanity than all the Dissenters put together. 

To tell you another Affair of Moment which tho' it ought by no 
means to be made publick so I think it ought not to be kept secret 
from you. The fine Church at Philada had undoubtedly been finished 
long ago had it not been for the pride 8c peevishness of our late Com- 
missary whose groundless & needless jealousie of an English Clergy- 
man threw the City into Parties put a stop to that great Work, & had 
almost made parties between the Clergy, But I hope all this died with 
him I know where he laid the blame but it was not right in him to do 
so. There is one favour I would beg of the Society if I may obtain 



214 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

it That they wou'd be so good as to bestow upon me or add to their 
Library here, Dr. Prideaux's Connection with the Map's? A Gent in 
this County has the Book, but the Map's are not in it nor to be had at 
Philada. You know how necessary they are to the clear under- 
standing of that excellent History & how necessary for a Clergyman. 
My churches generally all the Summer Season have more people 
attending devine Service than they will hold so that I am often 
obliged to preach under the green trees. This notwithstanding all 
my difficulties in so extensive a Mission is no small pleasure, & en- 
couragement to 

Sr your faithful & Most Hum Servt Wm Becket. 

Lewes, Octr 16, 1741. 

P. S. — I am poor and so are my people so yt they are able to con- 
tribute very little to my support. The 20th part of the Ch. people 
dont live in Lewes, which are in this County, I must ride generally 
40 or 50 miles every week sometimes over 60 or else I cannot do the 
duties of this County. A Horse lasts me a year or 2 and a suit of 
cloaths half a year. Bills of Exchd are lower'd & the price of goods 
much raised since the War. Can the Society afford to make me any 
addition for visiting distant Churches, Or must I be content to wear 
homespun Cloth as they call it here? Be it as it will I shall en- 
deavour to be content I have not forgot the last Sermon I heard at 
St. Pauls by Dr. Maugey on these Words, No man having put his 
hand to the Plough & looking back is fit for the Km of God. I have 
faithfully distributed all the Books and small tracts sent by the 
Society here is indeed great want of more if they could be afforded. 

1741. — "The Reverend Mr Becket, Missionary at Lewes, 
by a Letter dated October 16, 1741, writes, that the good 
Designs of the Society prosper there, but not without Oppo- 
sition; however, all the Summer Season he hath more Persons 
attending Divine Service, than his Churches will hold ; & he is 
often obliged to preach under the green Trees ; & in the month 
of May, when he visited the most distant parts of his Mission, 
he baptized 57 children in two days; & stepping into a corner 
of Maryland to A'isit some People at their earnest Request, he 
baptized nine Children there. Mr Becket adds, that the 
Church of Lewes hath been lately wainscoted on the Inside in a 
plain decent Manner, & the Roof is arched, & will be painted" 
Letter to the Secretary of the Society. 

Revd Sr. — On the other Half of this Sheet you will find my Xotitia 
&c. By adding 52 persons & Children I baptized this lialf year to 
86 baptized the last half year it appears yt I have baptized 138 in the 
last TTwelve months. My churches are full every Sunday even at 
this Time of the year but in Summer they will not hold the people so 
yt I am often forced to preach in the Church Yard under a Shady Tree. 
But as to the people of the Town of Lewes in Particular who are a 
small mixture of all persuasions (Churchmen Quakers Presbyterians 
Whitefieldians i. e. Enthusiasts & Freethinkers) I must not conceal 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 215 

from you that they are for the most part a sad set of Mortalls I cannot 
give you a better idea of them yn to imagine yourself at Deal or Dover. 
They have lately beat the King's Coll. when in the Xn of his office 
almost blind and because at his request I read an Act of Parliament 
appointed to be read in Churches tho' they cannot for shame beat me 
yet they have not spared to ridicule me behind my back And have 
laid a Plot to starve me For tho' yesterday at the Church of Lewes, 
I had a full congregation yet when my Subscription was handed about 
for, the Current Year Most of the People went out without signing a 
penny. Only Ten persons among them staid & subscribed Ten pounds 
Five Shillings currency among them equal to about £6 8s. Od. Sterling 
But what is in the bottom of all this I am told by my Friends & I 
greatly suspected it is because when I was summoned before the 
Commissioners in Chancery above a Year ago in the Cause depending 
between Ld Baltimore & Mr. Penn I was obliged to declare upon Oath 
some Truths which it seem make against the Pennsylvanians, so that 
their creatures & Dependants have made a Party & laid this Scheme. 
I have kept my temper and I hope shall keep it not murmuring nor 
offering to return Evil for Evil. But shall study to be quiet & mind 
my own Business. When you write again be pleased to let me know 
what the Hon Society sais about my petition for some allowance for 
serving Distant Churches as menconed in my last. I remain Revd Sr 
Yor Most Obedt & Hum Servt Wm Becket. 

Mar 29, 1742. 

Letter to the Secretary of the Society. 

Revd Sr. — I acqted you in my last of March 29 with the State of 
my Parish (a whole County) and it is much in the same state as yet 
viz. My Churches are full on Sundays & Holidays & in the Summer 
my Churches (4 in number) will not hold the Congregations, so yt I am 
often obliged to preach under the green Trees for the want of Room 
& the sake of fresh Air & Shade 

Pray Sr excuse me to the Treasuries for drawing quarterly this year. 
My Necessities urged me I carried my only Son to the Grammar School 
in Philada (a hopeful youth of 15) in May who dyed alass on the 4th 
of July of a Bloody flux, and I had no way to pay the necessary Charges 
but by trespassing on the Hon Societies goodness. — This is a sad Sub- 
ject & my tears will not suffer me to write any more upon it. Be so 
good as to lay before the Hon Society my Petition to have something 
allowed for visiting distant Churches. There is no Clergyman yt lives 
within 50 or 60 miles of me and I sometimes every year am several 
days from Home on this very Acct. and have many times travelled 
from 60 to 100 miles as Reason & Necessity have required I have the 
pleasure to acqt. you now yt Enthusiasm abates as fast as it once in- 
creased here Mr. Whitefield's followers have recanted some of them 
(the most considerable, in Print. And the truth is your Missionaries 
have conquered & convinced them not so much by opposition as by 
Patience and by Studying to be quiet and to mind their own Business. 
You will find my last year's Notitia on the other half Sheet. So wish- 
ing yt all of us may be found worthy in Somie measure of the Sacred 
trust reposed in us at the great Day I remain Revd Sr Yor most Obedt 
Hum Servt • ' Wm B. 

Lewes in Penns., Sept 26, 1742. 



216 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

1742. — "The Reverend Mr Becket, the Society's Missionary 
at Lewes, writes, that his Churches, (four in number) are full 
on Sundays, & in the Summer-season he is often obliged, for 
want of air & room, to preach under the green Trees; & now 
Enthusiasm abates as as fast as it did once increase there. 
The Truth is, as Mr. Becket well observes, that the Societys 
Missionaries have conquered it not so much by Opposition as 
by Patience, & a strict observance of the Apostolical Precept 
of studying to be quiet & to do their own business. 

Subscription List to Buy William Becket a Farm. 

We whose Names are here unto subscribed do promise to pay or 
cause to be paid to Wm Becket Missionary at Lewes or Order 
the several Sums annexed to our respective Names in Money 
or Country produce within the space of twelve months from the 
date hereof in Order to enable him to buy the Plantation of Mr. 
Samuel Davis in Angola Neck for his better settlement & support 
among us. 

Witness our hands this 2Sth day of March 1732. Note of the said 
William Becket shall hereafter leave this County & accept of another 
Parish he doth oblige himself hereby to repay to the Ch Wardens the 
sums which the people respectively advance towards supporting the 
next Minister of the Ch of England which shall be his Successor in 
the Sd County. 

Lewes & Rehoboth Hundred. 

Henry Brooke £5 Os. Od. 

Anderson Parker 3, 

Simon KoUock 5 

Ry\es Holt 3 

Jacob KoUoch 5 

John Jacobs 3 

Richard Henman 5 

Jonathan Baily 5 

John Clowes 3 

John Welbore (Parish Clerk) 1 

Joseph Pemberton 3 

Cornelius Wiltbank 2 

Thomas Bluett (Attorney) 2 

William Field 3 

Henry Fisher 3 o 

Jacob Willbank 2 

Abraham Hood 1 

John Aston 15 

Comfort Jenkyns 1 

Jane Hirons 1 o 

Maria Kollock 2 

John Hubrey 1 

Robt Smith (a Presbyterian) 3 

Jacob Phillips 4 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 217 

Indian River Hundred. 

John Prettyman £2 

Woodman Stoakly 2 

William Warrington 1 

Geo Parker 1 

Wm Burton 1 

Peter Robinson 1 

Wm Williamson 

Elias Hauzer 

Wm Burton, Junr 

Geo Venam 

John Hill 

John Smith 

Robt Smith 

Wm Woodstock 

Richd Paremore 

Saml Carey 

Wm Waples 2 

Saml Hauzer 

Richd Poultney (a Quaker) 1 

Wm Prettyman 1 

Ben Stockly 1 

Ann Burton (widow) 2 

John Parsons 1 

Thomas Leatherbury 1 

Job Barker 2 

Alexr Herring 1 

Thomas Marriner 1 

William Marriner 

James Fox 

Hen Brereton 1 

Francis Wolfe 

Cord Hazard 

Thomas Warrington 1 

Oliver Stoakley 1 

Isaac Atkins 

William Atkins 

Joshua Stoakly 

Charles Dogharty 

Wm Hudson 

Jno. Williams » 

Wm Butler 

John Walls 

John Price 

Saml Hudson 

Thomas Foster 

Edwd Rickards 

Cloud Fowler 

Booth Jones 1 

Daniel Nalwod 

Jos Hazard 1 

John Atkins 1 

John Russel Senr 1 



Os. 


Od. 




















10 











10 





12 





15 





10 





10 





5 





S 





10 





10 





18 











10 





10 





10 





S 











s 





























10 





10 











10 





10 

















10 





12 





10 





10 





s 





10 





5 





10 





6 





6 





10 





10 





10 











10 
























218 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Wm Maccalley £0 

William Prettyman 

William Day Junr 

John Russel Junior 

John Day 

Wm Robinson 1 

Thos Marriner Junr 

Richd Burton 

Thomas Bagwell 1 

William Wolfe 

Robt Burton 

Thomas Lyrah 

Rise Wolfe 

Cedar Creek Hundred. 

WiUiam Till £S 

John May 2 

Abraham Wyncoop 2 

Saml Watson 1 

Thomas Davis Junior 1 

Luke Watson 1 

Nehemiah Davis 

Saml Holburt 7 

Joseph Hickman 

Griffith Jones 

Thomas Price 1 

Isaac Watson 1 

Caleb Cirwithen 

Wm Carpenter s 

John Jones 

Elizabeth Watson Wid 

Mary Watson Wid 1 

Daniel Bonier 

Thomas Davis Senr 1 

Henry Draper 1 

Alexr Draper 5 

John Hunter 1 

Costen Townsend 

Joshua Hickman 

Paris Chipman 1 

Abraham Parseley 1 

Thomas Goldsmith 

Richard Jacobs 

Ann May wid 1 

William Darnley 1 

Sarah Watson Widow 

Christopher Phillips 

Thomas Groves 

Robert Caldwell 1 

1743. — -"The Reverend Dr. Jenney, the Commissary of 
this Province in the room of the late worthy Mr. Commis- 
sary Cummings, acquaints the Society by his Letter dated 



lOs. 


Od. 


10 





10 





10 





10 











10 





10 











10 





s 





10 





10 





Os. 


Od. 








10 











10 





10 





10 





10 





10 





10 

















10 





10 





10 





12 











10 





























IS 

















10 





10 

















15 





15 





15 












ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 219 

Nov. 4, 1743, of the Death of Mr Beckett, the Society's 
Missionary in Lewes-Town in Sussex. This Gentleman had 
been fixed there by the Society in the year 1721; & from 
that year to the time of his Death, in the last Summer, he 
had laboured with great Diligence, & such Success in the 
Pastoral Office throughout that County, that according to 
the last letters received from him, the four churches in it 
under his care were so thronged, that in the Summer Season 
he was frequently obliged to preach under the green Trees 
for the Conveniency of Room & fresh air ; he is much lamented 
by his congregations, & hath left behind him the character 
of a pious, faithful, & orthodox Pastor. The said congre- 
gations having petitioned the Society for the Reverend Mr 
Usher, the Society's Missionary at Dover in Kent County, 
who took care of & officiated to them during Mr. Becket's 
Sickness, as much as was consistent with his proper Care of 
the Church of Dover, to succeed Mr. Beckett in the Church of 
Lewes; & Mr Usher himself requesting it likewise, they have 
removed Mr Usher to the Church of Lewes, & appointed the 
Reverend Mr. Morris, lately employed by them in New Eng- 
land, at his own request, to succeed Mr Usher at Westchester." 

Copy. Last Wil and Testament op William Becket. 

In the name of God and of the Ever Blessed Trinity, I William 
Becket missionary of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel 
in foreign parts being sound in judgment and memory but weak in 
body do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner 
and form following: I resign up my soul to God who gave it humbly 
hoping for pardon and forgivness thro Jesus Christ the Savior of me 
and of all that believe in him, and my body I commit to the earth 
to be decently interred by my executors according to the rites and 
usages of the Church of England, and desire it may be buried between 
my two wives in the Church Yard of St Peters, Lewis, in hopes of a 
joyful resurrection at the last day. 

As to my worldly estate I. dispose as follows; I will that my just 
debts be paid and discharged, and sence I have already given to my 
son-in-law William Futcher and his wife goods and chatties by build- 
ing him a house giving him a negro and sundry other goods to ye 
value of £100 for which he and his wife are very ungratefuU, I give 
each of them and english shilling and no more of my estate. 

As to my house all my buildings my pattent and warrant lands 
amounting to about five hundred and fifty acres I give to be equally 
divided between my two daughters Elizabeth and Susannah to them 
and their heirs forever. 

My negroes Jenny and Oxford I give to my said two daughters, 
but order that she that hath Oxford pay to the other a reasonable 
price of exchange and I leave my two said daughters executrixes of 
this my last will and testament. 



220 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

I leave my priests habits to any of my reverend brethren that 
shall preach my funeral, I leave to my good old friends Ryves Holt 
Esq. a gold ring now on my ring finger, and to Capt. Cord Hazzard 
my best riding saddle that I may have at the time of my death. 

I give my two daughters aforesaid, free leave to keep or dispose 
of my house land &c as they may see convenient but then I will that 
no deed of sale for the lands, till they have advised with the two 
Gentlemen above and the hand of one or both of them is to the deed 
be valid, and I desire them to be supervisors of this my last will and 
to advise my children for the best, I declare this to be my last will 
and testament having no other. 

Signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and of the 
testator in the presence of us. Wm. Becket [seal.] 

Tests I. P. Plaskett 
Ann Plaskett 
Cornelius Burton 

The words Acres, Funeral, and, be valid, were interlined before the 
sealing and delivering hereof. 

I William Becket missionary of the society for the propagation of 
the Gospel in Foreign parts do by this codicil to my last will and 
testament give and bequeath to raf son-in-law William Futcher my 
best suit of clothes, • 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th 
day of August Anno Dom. 1743. 

Signed and sealed in presence of. [seal.] 

1768. — "The Revd Dr Smith, Provost of the College of 
Philadelphia * * * incloses letters from the Mission 
of Trenton, backed by recommendation of the New Jersey 
clergy, in favor of Mr Thomson, who soUicits to be removed 
thither, as does Mr Andrews of Lewes, from Sussex on Dela- 
war, on account of the unhealthfulness of the place, & would 
gladly accept of York County, & take care of Cumberland 
too till another missionary can be got. In this the Society 
have so far Concurred, that they have given Mr Andrews 
leave to remove to the Mission of York & Cumberland, pro- 
vided he will take the whole duty upon him, as Mr Thomson 
did before, & promise to Continue in it without a prospect of 
having the Mission divided." 

1769. — "By several letters from the Revd Dr Smith, Pro- 
vost of the College in Philadelphia, the Society are made 
acquainted that due care has been taken by him of the Mis- 
sion at Oxford. That Mr Thomson is settled at Trenton, & 
Mr Andrews at Cumberland. That Mr Lyon came to see 
the Gloster & Waterford Mission but not finding it answer 
the expectations given, & there being a greater necessity 
that the Lewes Mission vacated by Mr Andrews, should not 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 221 

be left destitute, he with the advice of the Philadelphia 
Clergy, removed thither, & having since earnestly sollicited 
to be placed there, the Society have consented to it, being 
in hopes of providing soon for the Gloster mission." 

1771. — "Several letters have been received in the course 
of the year from the Rev. Mr Lyon, Missionary at Lewes, 
by which it appears that in one year he had baptized 267 
white infants, 2 adult slaves, and 11 infant slaves; married 
39; buried 18. That, he had been urged to go back often 
to the extremes of the County, where he has had large Con- 
gregations of grown persons, who never before attended 
public worship. That, his mission is growing & promises 
fair; & his health somewhat better; but at his first coming, 
he & his family suffered much by sickness, which proved 
fatal to his wife, & one other in the family." 

1772. — "The Reverend Mr Lyon, Missionary at Lewes, 
writes that he officiates in three churches, & at other times, 
preaches in the remote parts, as far as to the borders of 
Maryland." 

1774. — "Upon the joint recommendation of Dr Peters, 
Dr Smith, and Mr Duche, the Society have appointed Mr 
Tingley to the Mission of Lewes, vacated by Mr Lyon's ac- 
ceptance of a parish in Virginia, And they have the satis- 
faction to hear that he is a diligent Missionary, & highly 
acceptable to his People." 

"The Rev. Mr Lyon, late Missionary at Lewes, acquaints 
the Society that between Easter & November he baptized 
129 white & 6 black infants, 1 black & 16 white adults; & 
recommends the forest part of the mission to the attention 
of his successor, the Rev. Mr Tingley, by whom the Society 
are informed that St George's at Indian River, though not 
mentioned in former Abstracts, is a part of his mission, that 
he frequently officiates in an old ruinous church in the forest 
to a considerable number of poor people, who have no other 
opportunity of public worship ; & he does this often on Sun- 
days, upon his return from St George's, with great fatigue 
to himself, that he may not take them off from their labour 
in the busy part of the year. During the Summer season 
he frequently reads prayers, preaches, & baptizes, on Mon- 
days, in a private house, in Cedar-Creek Forest on account of 
it's distance from the Church. The three Churches of his 
mission are in general well filled, & the people very attentive. 
In each of them he administers the sacrament four times 



222 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

a year; his Communicants are about 110; he hath baptized 
202 white & 43 black children & infants, 6 white & 13 black 
adults; marriages 36, burials 14. On every Friday after- 
noon he catechises the children at Lewes & hears them repeat 
portions of the Psalms, which he gives them to learn every 
week. After the Sunday's evening service he catechizes the 
negroes in the church; & explains the Catechism to them 
in the most familiar manner." 

1775. — "By a letter of last June the Society have the 
first notice from Mr Tingley of his receiving his appointment 
to the Mission of Lewes. The delay, he says, was occasioned 
by the mis carriage of a letter from Philadelphia. He assures 
the Society of his constant attention to the duties of his 
office, & encloses the testimony of the church-wardens, 
which does honour to Mr Tingley, & induces the Society to 
believe that he may & will be very useful in those parts." 

List of Subscribers to the building of St. Peters Church in the Town 
of Lewes which was raised on the 6th of October, 1722: 

Hon. Sir Wm. Keith, Bart, late governor £5 Os. Od. 

Henry Brooke Esq S 

Capt. Jonathan Bailey S 

Mr. Richard Hinman 5 

Mr. Simon KoUock 5 

Wm. Becket, Missionary 5 

Mr. Preserved Coggeshall 4 

Mr. Ryves Holt 4 

Mr. Jacob KoUock 3 

Mr. Anderson Parker 3 

Mr. Abram Wiltbank Senr 3 1 2 

Mr. William Rodeney 3 

Mr. Samuel Rowland 3 

Mr. WiUiam White 2 10 

Mr. WilUam Asheton 1 3 8 

Mr. Thos. Lawrence 1 7X 

Mr. Robert Asheton 1 10 

Doct. Thomas Graeme 1 3 7)^ 

Mr. Isaac Miranda 1 3 7 y^ 

Mr. Thomas Sober 1 3 7J^ 

Mr. Peter Graeme 1 3 1 34: 

Mr. Richard Willing 1 3 7 

Capt. Saml. Spoiforth 11 U 

Capt. Gruchee 11 8^ 

Andrew Hamilton Esq 1 18 

Berkley Codd, Esq 2 6 9 

Col. St. Leger Codd 1 3 1>^ 

CorneUus Wiltbank 3 

Richard Paynter 2 

Capt. Thomas James 1 3 5}4 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 



223 



^1 


Os. 


Od. 




10 















3 


6 




10 























































10 































5 






Mr. Ebenezer Empson £ 

Mr. Benjamin Godfrey 

j\Ir. Woodman Stoakley 

Mr. Samuel Lowman 

Col. John French 

Capt. John Price 

Joseph Cord 

Albertus Jacobs. . ; 

Nicholas Maclander ' 

Jeremiah Claypoole 

Capt. Joseph Royall 

William Godwyn 

Mrs. Martha Johnson 

John Russell 

Thomas Stoakley 

Robert Cornwall , 



£96 6s. 5^d. 

and since the arrival of the Honourable Parrick Gordon, Esq. when 
he came to visit this part of his Government he gave five pounds 
towards finishing the gallery. Mr. Joseph Pemberton also has under- 
taken as a benefaction to this Church to cause the front of the Gallery 
to be wainscotted with black Walnut at his own proper cost and charge 
which work is now (1728) going on. 

Account of the Building and state of the Churches in Sussex taken 
from a letter written by Wm. Becket Missionary at Lewes to the Ven- 
erable Society of England dated Oct. 11th. 1728. "The dimensions 
of the Church at Lewes is as follows, viz. 40 feet in length 24 broad, 
the height of the wall between the plate and sill is 15 feet. The Frame 
is of Wood the Roof is covered with Cypress Shingles and the wall 
with boards of the same wood. The inside of the Church is not yet 
finished, only the floor is laid, and the walls wainscotted with Cypress 
plank as high as the tops of the pews. The Pulpit, reading desk. 
Communion Table and Rail are handsomely built of black Walnut — 
and the pews are all made of pine plank. 

The situation of this church is very pleasant standing on a rising 
ground in the middle of the town and having a view of Cape Henlopen 
grown over with cedar and fine trees which lies beyond the River of 
Lewes to the Eastward, sheltering the town in a great measure from 
the violence of the winds that blow off the great Atlantic Ocean. To 
the Northward and N. West we have a view of the great bay of Dela- 
ware. The greatest advantage of this situation is, that the N. West 
winds blow with full scope down Del. Bay and directly up Lewes 
river on the town which makes it perhaps one of the healthiest spots 
on the Globe — ^but I must not forget that I am writing an ecclesias- 
tical not a natural history, pardon therefore this digression and we 
proceed 

The number of people frequenting this church I reckon at a mean 
computation about ISO. 

The first settlers of this County, were for the far greatest part, 
originally English, some few however there are of Dutch families, 
but of late years great numbers of Irish (who usually call themselves 



224 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Scotch Irish) have transported themselves and their families from the 
North of Ireland into the Province of Pennsylvania and have dis- 
tributed themselves into the several Counties where Lands were to 
be taken up, many families are settled in the County of Sussex. They 
are Presbyterians by profession. They have a minister here of the 
same Nation whom they maintain by contribution and have two 
meeting houses in this County, one at the Cool Spring, 8 miles distant 
from Lewes, another in the town of Lewes, which being much decayed 
they have laid the foundation of another the last year close by the old 
one, the building is of brick, they are now carrying it on with dilUgence 
so that the roof is likely to be raised, as I am told before the end of 
this present year. The numbers of people and their respective pro- 
fession in my parish will be the best seen by inserting the copy of a 
Letter from Mr. Holt, High Sheriff of this County. 

"Sir: — The Taxable inhabitants in Sussex are (at a mean compu- 
tation) one year with another about 420, of which 350 are heads of 
families viz. 

Churchmen 215 

Presbyterians 120 

Quakers IS 

35& 

and allowing 5 persons to each family the number of souls will be 1750. 
The above is as near the truth as I can possibly come, without a strict 
Poll was to be taken, I am 

"Sr yr very humble Servt. 
"July, 1728. "Ryves Holt" 

So that according to this computation, the number of souls is as 
follows : 

Church people 1075 

Presbyterians 600 

Quakers 75 

Whole number 1750 

The Quakers have one meeting house in this County 7 miles dis- 
tant from Lewes, but at present they have no teacher there, however 
they hold silent meetings, unless some travelling preacher or "friend" 
(as they call them) happen to come this way. 

The inhabitants here live scattering genei^ally at K a mile or a 
miles distance from one another except in Lewes where 58 families 
are settled together. The business or employment of the Country 
Planters is alftiost the same with that of an English farmer, they 
commonly raise wheat. Rye, Indian com and tobacco and have store 
of Horses, Cows and hogs. The produce they raise is commonly sent 
to Philada 150 miles from here to purchase such European or West 
Indian commodities as they may want for their family use — or also 
to N. York or Boston. The people here have generally the reputa- 
tion of being more industrious than they of some of the neighbouring 
counties; this last year there was a great scarcity of com in Mary- 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 225 

land and in this government except in this County which suppUed 
them with large quantities in their necessity. This may be looked 
on as a mark of their care and diligence and an omen of their future 
Riches & success. 

The distaiice of the Churches from each other is thus computed, 
from St. Peters at Lewes to St. Georges, South 9 miles, from St. 
Peters to St. John Baptists West 14 miles and from the said church 
to St. Matthews near N. West, 25 miles, again from St. Georges to 
St. John Baptists, 9 miles, from thence in a circuit Road to St. 
Mathews 12 miles. 

But then we are a very great distance from any other churches 
that are supplyed with clergymen — for example my nearest neigh- 
hiours of the clergy are the Revd. Mr. Fletcher of Somerset County in 
Maryland 60 miles distant, the Revd. Mr. Adams of the same County 
and Province 70 miles distant and the nearest Missionary to this place, 
is the Rev. Mr. Ross at N. Castle 115 miles distant. 

The roads in my parish are very commodious for travelling, being 
level and sandy so that people usually come to church Winter and 
Summer, some 7 or 8 miles and others 12 or 14 miles which is no 
strange thing, but very common among the inhabitants of America. 

As yet there have been no donations to the Church or Missionary 
here besides the annual contributions towards his support, which 
depend entirely upon the pleasure of the contributors; only one 
which I ought in gratitude to mention in this place which was a 
Legacy of ten pounds left me in the Last will of Berkley Codd, Esq. 
One of the Judges of the Supreme Court for this County, who died 
in the year 1724 and some other Legacies and gifts which have 
demonstrated, not so much the Riches, as the good will of the Donors. 
And that the circumstances of the people and their degree of zeal 
to promote the Christian Religion may be the better judged I have 
inserted a copy of the last Subscription towards the support of the 
Societies Missionary at Lewes." 

Note. — This was omitted by Mr. Beckett in his copy of this letter. 
— D. R. K. 

And now in answer to the remaining part of the queries, the truth 
is there is no house nor land provided for the minister nor any Library 
but that which the Hon. Socy. was pleased to allow, when they 
sent over the present Missionary, and there is no public school in all 
the County, the general custom being, for what they call a neigh- 
bourhood (which lies some times 4 or 5 miles distant, one part from 
another) to hire a person for a certain sum and term to teach their 
children to read and write English, for whose accommodation they 
meet together at a place agreed upon, cut down a number of trees 
and build a log house in a few hours, (as illustrious as that in which 
Pope Sixtus Quintus was bom) whither they send their children 
every day during the term for it ought to be observed by way of 
commendation of the American Planters nowadays, that whatever 
pains or charge it may cost, they seldom omit to have their children 
instructed in Reading & writing the English Tongue. 

The number of negros (Freemen & Slaves) in this county are 241 
according to the exactest calculations that I can get having procured 
a particular list of them from a person in each hundred who could 



226 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

most commodiously take an account of them, several of them both 
bond & free I have baptized since ray coming here, but far the greatest 
part of them do yet remain unbaptized, and (it is to be feared) un- 
instructed, however it is to be hoped those good sermons and dis- 
courses which have been sent over by the charity of the Honourable 
Society and that excellent letter which was lately transmitted to the 
Masters and Mistresses of families in America in order to persuade 
them to instruct and have their negros baptized (by the Ld. Bishop 
of London will in a short time produce a very good efEect. St. John 
Baptists church was raised on Wednesday the 27th of March 1728. 
The frame is of white Oak, the dimensions are as follows viz. 30 
feet long 20 broad & 12 feet between the plate and sill. It stands 
about the Center of the county in the forest of Sussex and is inscribed 
to St. John the Baptist. 

The covering of the wall is to be of Cypress board and the roof of 
shingles of' the same wood which is most used here for the like pur- 
poses as the rain will not cause it to Rot. The work is to be carry'd 
on by the voluntary contribution of the inhabitants as it has already 
been raised on that foundation — 

Thus I have written to you every thing material that with any 
certainty I know or could learn concerning the state of religion here 
in answer to your queries. These matters here are in their infancy at 
present, but seem to grow and gather strength, and that they may 
still do so to maturity and long flourish to the honor of God and 
the increase of true Piety and Virtue is the ardent wish and Prayer 
of Sir 

Your very humble servt. William Becket 

Missionary at Lewes. 

Oct. nth, 1728. 

Reverend Sir: — In obedience to the commands of the Honour- 
able Society I here send you a Historical account of my parish, 
which shall be as brief as will consist with what is requisite to make 
it full and clear, properties essentially necessary to a good history, 
and herein I shall exactly follow the method laid down in your letter 
to me in June last on this subject. 

1. My Parish comprehends the whole county of Sussex, in the 
Territories of Penna (as it is commonly styled) or Counties of N. 
Castle Kent and Sussex on Delaware bounded on the East by Del. 
Bay, Somerset Coy, Md. on the South and west and Kent on Dela- 
ware on the North — in length about 30 and in breadth about 12 or 
14 miles. Latitude about 39 degrees North. 

In this County are 4 churches erected none as yet finished, but 3 
of them so far carried on, as to admit of the decent performance of 
Divine Worship, every Sunday alternately, I shall give you a par- 
ticular but brief account of each in the order in which they were 
raised. 

1st. St. Matthews in Cedar Creek Hundred. 

2d. St. Georges in Indian River do 

3rd. St. Peters in Lewes & R. do 

4th. St John Baptists in Broadkill do 

The 2 first of these churches were erected before my coming 
here — the 2 last since my arrival here as the Societies Missionary. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 227 

Of the former I shall give as good an account as I can procure, 
from the inhabitants of the County. Of the latter upon my own 
knowledge. 

St. Matthews Church Cedar Creek was raised in the year 1707 
being the first building that was erected for the service of God and 
Religion in this Country according to the Rites and Usages of the 
Church of England. It is a Timber building, the wall covered with 
boards of Cypress, and the roof with cypress shingles, the floor has 
been laid, a pulpit, desk. Communion Table and some pews, were 
built about 4 years ago but the inside of the church is not yet 
finished. 

The dimensions are as follows. Thirty feet long 20 wide 12 between 
joysts viz. between plate & sill The reason why the building was 
left unfinished was, because of the difficulty they had in getting a 
missionary, who had contributed towards the building of it. But 
why they have not gone on with the building since their church was 
supplyed, is not so clear. The work was begun and has been carried 
on by contribution, but as the subscription has for as much as I can 
learn been lost, so I cannot get any account of the Contributors 
names or of the sums they gave. 

The congregation here is numerous being generally on Sundays 
when the weather is good to travel about 200 persons the church not 
being large enough to contain many more than one half of the num- 
ber, though a small gallery has been raised across one end of the church. 
I am in hopes however to persuade them shortly to enlarge it. The 
first Missionary here was the Rev. William Black, now of Accomack 
County in Virginia, who staid near two years, after his departure the 
people had no minister settled among them for about 12 years, untill 
the year 1721 when the present Missionary arrived here. Btit they 
were sometimes visited by the Rev. Mr. Ross who came above 100 
miles to preach to them & baptize their children and by the Rev. 
Mr. Adams who came nearly 90 miles during this long vacancy, whose 
Christian zeal and charity deserve to be mentioned with gratitude on 
this occasion. 

St. George's Chapel in Indian River hundred, 9 miles distant 
from Lewes was raised in December 1719, The frame of Oak — the 
length of it was 25 feet the breadth 2.0 and the height 12 feet. The 
walls and roof were covered with red oak boards and thus remained 
till the year 1725 when a new addition of 15 feet was made to it; the 
older part of this building has a pulpit, gallery and floor, the new part 
is not yet floor'd, but we have agree'd with a workman this year to 
cover the whole roof with cypress shingles and to lay the floor of the 
new part, the congregation frequenting this chapel consist usually of 
about 200 people. 

This Building was rais'd as all the churches in this Government 
are by voluntary contribution. The sum contributed towards carry- 
ing on the work at first was £34 15d. 8s. and the repairing and enlarging 
it since, has cost about as much more. The Contributors were about 
66 in number to raise the first sum. The people here are constant 
attenders on the public service and annually contribute something 
of their small substance towards the carrying on the building of their 
yet unfinished chappel & the maintenance of their minister. 

Oct. 11, 1728. 



228 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Petition of Arthur Usher. 
To THE Venerable and Hony the Society for the Propogation 
OP THE Gospel in Foreign Parts : 

The Petition of Arthur Usher Humbly Sheweth That Your Pe- 
titioner being advised by Physicians to live in a warm Climate for the 
Recovery of his health, doth therefore offer himself as a Missionary 
and having already laid the Testimonials of his Good Life & Conver- 
sation before the Lord Bishop of London, is likewise ready to lay the 
same before the Said Society who he hopes will take him into their 
Consideration if there be a Vacancy. 

And ye Petr (as in duty bound) Will Pray etc 

Arthur Usher. 

Mr. Ushers Testimonials. 

Henricus Providentia Divina Clonensis Episcopus Dilecto Nobis 
in Christo Reverendo Arthurio Usher Cf. 

Jacob Hanning, Reg's. 

Hen 9i Clonensis 



Scriptum a Virgo Eptuno in [ L. s. ] Gyston en Virilaren Friend 
Ordinaria tent & Died blonen 21^ 

die May A° D° 1736. 
Visitaas Die Clonentent Edv Lloyd 

Vertio Die Septm ano Dome 1736° Reglius 

Jacob Hanning, Rlgly. 

Omnibus adquos, &c. 

In Cujus rei Testimonum Singulorum Manus a2t Publicum CoUegii 
Sigillum apposunimus Decimo Sexto Die May anno Domini Millessimo 
Septengentessimo trigesimo Sexto. 

John Elwood 
RoBT Shaw 
Heny Clark 
H. Graften 
Carl Stewart 
Saml Hughes 
RiCHD Baldwin Prseptr. Ca. Cartwright 

[ L. S. ] 

S. P. G. Journal December 17, 1725. 

Beckett, dated 7-6-1 72S would like to remove to Chester as the 
Rev. Mr. Humphries has gone to Annapolis. 

Sept 16, 1742 has 4 churches & no clergyman within 50 miles of 
him Letter to Dr. (Rev) Jenney, Lewes April, 1744, from Reive 
Holt Trustee to the Rev. Mr. Becket's children. His estate settled 
& not enough to support children as Mr. Becket had not drawn salary 
since Xmas 1742 One of his daughters, about 19 yrs, has been a 
cripple for several years S. P. G. makes a small grant & pays back 
dues Rev. Mr. Usher, Sussex in Pa. Sept. 25, 1745 also in Kent 
Rev. Mr. Usher Missionary to Churches in Sussex March 25, 1745. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 229 

The Dissenters having no settled Teacher in them, & they behave 
decently & regularly when at church, and as soon as he is well settled 
at Lewes, he will enquire into, & send an account of all his churches. 

A letter from Mr Usher dated L. 6-2-1745 acquainting that he has 
lately visited the four churches under his care, & can truly say that 
Religion flourishes in Sussex Co. & he has Baptized from the 25 of 
March preceeding 66. 

Letter dated 12-26-1745 Sussex Co in Pa. The flourishing condi- 
tion of the Church in Sussex, Dissenters attend & like service better 
than before, so that he expects a daily increase. The distance of 
the 4 churches in Sussex Co., & his attendance once a month at Dover 
during the vacancy there seem too hard for him, but he doth not 
grudge his pains, being determined to spend the remainder of his 
days in diligently performing the Duties of his station, & in enlarging 
the Kingdom of Christ in this world. He had lately Baptized 76 
children, some of them bom of Dissenting parents, who having no 
teacher in their own denomination applied to him to Baptize their 
children. 

Lewes March 26, 1745 Since Dec. 26 has Baptized 42 Infants & 2 
Adults after proper instruction. Number of Communicants 68 whose 
lives & conversations are agreeable to their profession After the 
death of Mr Morris he had attended the Churches in Kent Co. once 
every 5 weeks without so much as the allowance of traveling charges 
from the People of Kent County Hopes the Society will make allow- 
ance. They did. 

Lewes Sussex Co. in Pa. June 26, 1746 Stating that all the Summer 
season he hath more hearers than the church will hold & therefore 
he Preaches sometimes under the shade of the large trees & Catechises 
on Sundays in the afternoon, after the 2d Lesson, generally about 20 
children. Since 25 March has Baptized 58 White Children & 2 Blacks 
& 1 Adult person bred in Quakerism. 

Rev- Mr Arthur Usher Lewes June 26, 1747. The Members of the 
Church are assiduous & punctual in attending divine service all Parts 
of the year Since March 25 has Baptized 35 Infants & 3 Adults & 
his Congregations increase so fast that they have determined to make 
additions to two of his Country Chappels On Easter Day he had 18 
Communicants at Lewes. Catechizes 18 or 19 Children at Ten of 
the Clock on Sunday Mornings before sermon. Had begun a Course 
of Lectures on the Ch. Catechism which he preaches on Sunday Even- 
ings from March till September. 

Rev Mr Arthur Usher Lewes in Pa. 3-25-1749 Acquainting that 
in February last the Rev. Mr. Bluet Missionary at Dover in Kent 
Co. had departed this Life not much lamented by his congregation. 
They had applied to him to serve their church as often as he could, 
which he had promised to do once in 5 weeks; & tho, by Mr. Bluet's 
indiscretion the church was reduced to a very low ebb, yet by God's 
Blessing he hoped to gather the scattered flock together again, & 
upon his preaching there after Mr Bluet's death he had between 2 & 
300 Hearers who unanimously desired he might be restored to them 
again & which he would willingly accept if the Society should think 
proper He had Baptized, since last report, 26 White Children 5 
Adult Negroes who could repeat the Creed, the Lord's Prayer & ten 
Commandments & 6 Negro Children Communicants at Xmas 18. 



230 some records of sussex county. 

Copy of a Letter in Fulham Palace. 

Rev. Sir: — This letter accompanies Mr. Hector Alison's, 
and Mr. John Erkine's, who are now in orders, according to 
the Rites and usage of the Church of Scotland, but do intend 
to conform and receive Episcopal Ordination, as soon as it 
shall please God to vouchsafe them an opportunity of waiting 
upon His Lordship the Bishop of London for the time being, 
or on some other of our Reverend Fathers in God, who are 
placed in the pastoral offices of the Church of England, or 
by Law established; and the aforementioned gentlemen 
having addressed themselves to us the subscribing wardens 
of St. Peters at Lewes, to give them a testimonial of their 
moral Characters and behaviour, we crave leave to say that 
we have been fortunately acquainted with Mr. Alison for 
near 3 years last Past, and do certainly know that his whole 
deportment among us hath been grave, regular and exem- 
plary. And as to Mr. Erskine, we have heard as good report, 
and have also seen laudable Credentials of him with respect 
to his learning. Piety, Pasts, and conduct, from under the 
hands of Mr. Isaac Alison of Chester County, and Mr. Robert 
Cross of Philadelphia, the latter of whom as he lives in the 
same city with your Reverence, can (if applied to) give a 
more particular character of the said Mr. Erskine, Sir, we 
well know that to make suitable recommendations for most 
of the offices in life is no easy task, but the difficulty is much 
increased when it relates to so important a one as that of 
faithfully administering in the Church, and serving at the 
Christians Altar. However, we are all encouraged to so- 
licit your favourable countenance towards the gentlemen 
first above named, not only from the Principles of Benevo- 
lence, but from a well-grounded hope, that if their desires 
are accomplished, they will walk worthy of that vocation 
whereunto they shall be called. 

We conclude with sincere wishes for the peace & Prosperity 
of our Mother Church, and that those branches thereof, 
which by the favor of divine providence have been trans- 
planted into this infant Colony, may flourish, increase, and 
grow up to such perfection, as to become the seminaries of 
real piety, virtue, and true Godliness; so devoutly pray 

Rev. Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, 

R. Holt 
Lewes, June 20th, 1749 Jacob Kollick 

Mr. Commissary of Pennsylvania. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 231 

Rev Mr Usher, Lewes in Pa., June 26, 1749 Since March 25 
had Baptized 9 White & 3 Black Children & 2 Adult Whites after 
proper instruction, & received 4 new Communicants. It was near 
1 2 years from the time of his admission into the Service of the Society 
& during that time he had not only discharged the Duties of his Func- 
tion within his own Mission, but also occasionally supplied several 
neighbouring vacancies. 

Had just received a letter from Ireland with an Account of the 
Death of an elder Brother which obliges him to ask leave of the Society 
to be absent six months from his Mission in Order to settle some 
affairs relating to his Deceased Brother's Estate. 

Leave granted, Mr Usher taking care that the Church be duly 
supplied during his absence. 

Rev. Mr Usher Lewes Pa. Dec. 26, 1749. Since last report had 
Baptized 36 Infants, two of which are Negroes, 2 White Adults & 4 
Negroe Adults, after proper Instruction. That he had administered 
the H. C. four times in the year in the several Churches in Sussex Co. 
& he finds an increase of Communicants every time. 

That the Masters & Mistresses are more inclined than ever to have 
their Negroes instructed in the Principles of the Ch. of England 8t 
Baptized. 

He acquaints that the Congregation at Chester had a great loss in 
the death of their worthy Missionary Mr Backhouse. That he has 
drawn a bill for £15 Sterling & humbly reminds the Society for leave 
to return to his Native Country for Six Months. 

Rev. Mr. Usher Lewes June 25, 1750. Acquainting that he can 
with great Truth assure the Society that his churches are so thronged 
in Summer that for conveniencey of Room he Preaches sometimes 
under a shady green Tree. 

Since 25 of last March has Baptized 54 white Infants, 3 Negro 
Children & 2 White Adults, after previous examination. Within 
the year has received 10 new Communicants of regular lives. 

Letter from the Rev. Mr Usher Missionary at Lewes in Sussex 
Co., Pa. Dated Lismore in Ireland, October 11, 1751, acquainting 
that when he left America he did not imagine that he should meet 
with so much Difficulty & Delay in the Settlement of his Deceased 
Brothers Affairs; but he thanked God, they would be brought to a 
conclusion in Novr Term, & he hoped he would embark for his 
Mission the first opportunity following. He desires leave to live in 
that part of the Mission which shall appear most convenient for the 
better care of the Whole, &■ not be confined to Lewes, as they have 
provided him neither House, nor Glebe, & yet expect he should Devote 
his Time to them to the Prejudice of the other Congregations. 

Leave was given to settle in such Part of the Mission as may answer 
best for his taking Care of the Whole. 

A letter from the Rev. Mr. Usher, Missionary at Lewes Sussex Co. 
in Pa. Dated Philada. May 11, 1752 acquainting that upon the Re- 
ceipt of the Secretary's letter, he embraced the first opportunity of 
embarking from Ireland for Pa. & was just then happily arrived, & 
proposed to set out that evening for his Mission where by his Dili- 
gence in his Pastoral Office he would do his best endeavours to show 
his gratitude to the Society for all their Favours & Indulgences to- 
ward him. 



232 ' SOME RECORDS OP SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Letter from the Rev. Mr Usher, Lewes October 18 17S2 asking 
leave to resign his Mission for want of health, he purposing to return 
to his Native Country Ireland where he hopes in some measure at 
least to recover his health. The Congregation of Sussex Co. re- 
quested him to apply to the Society in their behalf, that no Mission- 
ary who had been bred a Dissenter might be sent to them, because 
such are seldom or ever Stedfast In Principles but comply too far 
with the Dissenters, which gives offence & renders them cTontempti- 
ble in the Eyes of the Church People. 

The Rev Mr. Craig Itinerant Miss, in Pa in Letter dated Phila- 
delphia Nov. 16, 1752, desires to be settled in first Vacant Mission. 

Agreed to recommend Mr Craig to succeed Mr. Usher in ye Mission 
of Sussex Co. Salary same as Mr. Ushers & to commence from last 
Lady Day. He did not go to Lewes. 

Letter from the Rev Mr Locke lately an Itinerant Missionary to 
Pa. Dated Nov. 6, 1752 acquainted that finding the People in the 
Itinerant Mission much attached to Mr Craig, he had consented to 
go, & administer to the Church of Lewes, & to Settle there, if the 
Society should appro^•e thereof, & he was then at Lewes & had offi- 
ciated several times & Baptized several Children & would be more 
particular, as to the Church of Lewes in his next, if the Society should 
think proper to fix him there. Agreed to fr the Society. 

Agreed that a new Missionary be appointed for Sussex Co. pro- 
vided it shall appear that Mr. Locke is dead. 

Petition from St Peter's at Lewes, St George's Chapel in Indian 
Ri\er Hundred, & St Matthews in Cedar Creek Hd. all in the County 
of Sussex on Delaware, dated August IS, 1755 setting forth that the 
Mission to the said County hath either been vacant, or most Dis- 
honourably & unwarrantably neglected, by the frequent non- 
attendance, & constant non-residence of Mr. Usher during the whole 
time of his Mission (of which the Church Wardens have given a 
particular account in the preceeding letter) now the Rev. Mr. Matthias 
Harris having of late preached several Sermons among them & per- 
formed the other Duties of His Holy Function with general approba- 
tion, it hath been moved by the Members of the above mentioned 
Churcli & Chappeh to make such subscriptions towards his support 
as amount to upwards of ;£60 Sterling & on this consideration alone 
he is willing to officiate among them for the space of one year, or 
untill the Society's pleasure be known. The said Mr. Harris is a 
Native of Maryland, about 37 years of age, has a wife & 2 Children, 
was Ordained Deacon by the Bishop of London on March 18, 1753 
& Priest on the 25th of the same month by the Bishop of Chester. 
Since his coming back to America he has served in the Cure of the 
Parish of All Hallows in the County of Worcester in the Province 
aforesaid for the space of 17 months, & has brought a certificate from 
the Parishioners of his Morals, Conduct, & Exemplary Behaviour 
among them, &c &c. 

A letter from the Rev. Mr. Harris dated Lewes in Sussex Co., 
Nov. 15, 1755 refers to above & requests appointment. 

Agreed out of regard to Mr. Cle^•eland Petitioner to be sent Mis- 
sionary to the Church at Norwich, & in Compassion to his Numerous 
Family consisting of a Wife & 9 Children to recommend Mr. Cleve- 
land to the Society to be appointed Missionary to the Churches of 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 233 

Sussex Co. in Pennsylvania in the room of Mr. Locke deceased, if 
' the Lord Bishop of London shall think him Worthy to admit him to 
Holy Orders. 

A letter from the Rev. Mr. Cleveland Missionary to Lewes in Pa. 
dated Norwich Jan. 10, 1756 acquainting that after a long & tedious 
Voyage he is safely arrived in New England & should have imme- 
diately proceeded to his Mission were it not for the following reasons 
A'iz. In his Passage from Halifax to New England, a violent storm 
cast them on the sands called Nantucket Shoals, but by the goodness 
of God, they all escaped unhurt except Mr. Cleveland. 

The Vessel being but poorly manned he was obliged to assist the 
Sailors, & was struck by the Violence of the Sea against the side of the 
Ship, & was bruised in his head & other parts of his Body; that he 
was taken up for dead; of which he was not fully recovered when he 
wrote. 

He proposed to embrace the first opportunity of a Passage to 
Lewes. m tg 

Letter from Mr Cleveland Missionary at Lewes &c &c Nov. 3, 1756 
in which he writes of the Obstinacy of his Congregations still con- 
tinues. They have of late locked up St. Matthew's against him, the 
only church he was permitted to preach in. They declare that no 
man but Mr. Harris should preach in it, though the Society shall 
discourage them ever so much. Mr Cleveland is in a most distressed 
condition, many miles off his family, & nothing to support him or them 
but the Society's allowance, & used with much indignity In this 
situation he craves the Society's assistance, that they would extri- 
cate hirn out of it by appointing him to succeed Mr. Brooke in Mission 
at New Castle. Agreed to &c. 

Letter dated Oct. 11, 1756 Mr. Cleveland Missionary at Lewes &c. 
Mr. Harris leads the opposition, refuses to use all the Church Service, 
declares it is Romish &c. Mr. Cleveland administered H. C. to about 
20 persons Baptized 29 Infants & 2 Adults. His Widow Mrs. Susannah 
Cleveland writes the Society Aug. 21, 1758 telling of the death of her 
Husband & asking aid for herself & children. 

The Rev. Aaron Cleveland, son of Aaron and Abigail (Waters) 
Cleveland, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 19th, 1715, 
and died at Benjamin Franklin's house, Philadelphia, August 11th, 
1757. 

He was an ancestor of the late President Cleveland, and also of 
Bishop Coxe of the Diocese of Western New York. 

In 1750 he was a Dissenting Minister in charge of a congregation 
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1755 he was a Priest of the Church of 
England. 

In 1752 Lewes and St. George's Chapel, Indian River, wish to have 
a clergyman who could give his whole time to these two churches. 

St. Matthew's people objected and wrote August 1st, 1752: 

"The Churchwardens and Vestrymen of St. Matthew's Chapel" 
that St. Matthews had "by much the largest congregation, who have 
been always zealous to embrace every opportunity of joining in the 
Divine Service, the Greatest number of Communicants, and many 
children Baptized, beside have subscribed the most freely to their 
Minister, and (God be thanked) always have kept up a good harmony, 
one with another." 



234 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Secretary of the Convocation which met at Philadelphia May 
2d, 1760, wrote to the S. P. G. : 

' ' The Mission at Lewes is- still vacant on account of the refractory 
conduct of the People, and one Mr. Harris, who intruded himself into, 
it without the Society's Leave, and to the exclusion of the Missionary 
they had appointed some years ago. 

"Mr. Harris did not offer to take his seat in Convention, but pre- 
sented to their Committee a Submission on his own part and that of 
two of his churches, to be transmitted to the Society, praying to be 
reinstated in their favour. 

"But as the Church of Lewes, which is the principal one, and the 
seat of the Mission, had not joined in this Submission, and as those 
who did join in it seemed still desirous of retaining Mr. Harris among 
them, the Committee did not chuse to have anything to do in trans- 
mitting their Papers, but ordered them to be returned to themselves 
to be transmitted in such manner as they should think proper. ' ' 

The Hon. Ryves Holt, Chief Justice, writes from Lewes June 26th, 
1762, to the S. P. G. for a pastor: 

"And now. Sir, permit me to subscribe myself on behalf of the 
Congregations of St. Peter's Church, St. George's and St. Matthewe's 
Chappels in Sussex aforesaid." 

In 1765 the Rev. Mr. Inglis of Dover (afterward Lord Bishop of 
Nova Scotia) writes: "Sussex County is to be twice as large, on 
account of the decision of the Lord Chancellor in favour of Penn, and 
two Maryland churches will be added. 

"Separate St. Matthew's from Lewes, and attach it to St. Paul's 
Kent County." 

He said St. Matthew's and St. Paul's could be worked together, as 
they were so near each other. 

The Rev. Mr. Magaw, of Dover, Writes, November 14th, 1767: 
"Cedar Creek (St. Matthew's) is at present connected with the Lewes 
Town Mission." 

In a letter dated July 31, 1763, the parishoners of Sussex Co., 
St Peter's, St George's, & St. Matthews, agree to raise so much 
money & a glebe for such Missionary as the Society shall see fit to 
send them. 

1765 Resolved that the Rev. Mr Quincy of Geddington Northamp- 
shire be appointed Missionary to Lewes in Sussex Co. Pa., with a 
Salary of £40 per annum &c. Mr. Quincy did not come to Lewes. 

A letter from the inhabitants in Sussex Co. dated Lewes Co. on Del. 
Nov. 11, 1766 requesting that Mr. John Andrews who is perfectly well 
recommended by Dr. Smith, Mr. Peters & many worthy Clergymen, 
may be appointed the Society's Missionary to the Churches of St 
Peters, St. Georges & St. Matthews in that County. Agreed, if the 
Lord Bishop of London shall find him worthy of Holy Orders. Or- 
dered that Mr. John Andrews be appointed to the Mission of Lewes in 
Sussex Co. on Del. with salary of £40 per annum to commence from 
Xmas last. 

Letter from the Rev. Mr. John Andrews, Miss, at Lewes &c &c 
Cedar Creek dated Lewes 18 Nov. 1767. He met with a kind recep- 
tion on his arrival June 1. His Mission includes St. Peters Lewes, 
St Georges at Indian River & St. Matthews at Cedar Creek, to each 
of which he gives an equal share of his labours Since his arrival he 




:V. JOHN ANDREWS. D.D. 
From a portrait by Sully. 
St. Peter's, Lewes. 1767-1770. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 235 

has baptized S3 White, 7 Negroe & 2 Mulatto Children & has 67 Com- 
municants. The three churches have jointly engaged to pay annually 
the sum of £15 Currency towards the support of a Miss. & to allow an 
equivalent for a Glebe till one shall be purchased, which will be as 
soon as & convenient place for that purpose shall be found, for which 
they have agreed to give £300. Currency. Mr. Andrews, with great 
modesty hopes that the Society will take into their consideration that 
his salary is reduced & his Duty expensive & Laborious & bestow on 
him a gratuity which he had some hope given him. Agreed to. 

Letter from Mr. John Andrews Miss, at Lewes dated Philada Aug. 
4, 1768 informing the Society that he lives in great harmony with his 
people, who are regular in their behaviour, but rather deficient in a 
proper sense of Religion, which cannot seem strange as they have been 
so long without the performance of Public Worship They are very 
illiterate owing to their great poverty Several attempts have been 
made in vain to establish a Grammar School at Lewes, because they 
could not furnish salary sufficient for a man duly quaUfied. At Xmas 
administer H. C. St Peter's Lewes to 16 at Easter at St. George's 34. 
Whitsun Day, St. Matthew's 21. Since last Nov. has Baptized 75 
White & 2 Black Children & 1 Adult. The S. P. G. agreed to make 
an allowance for a Schoolmaster at Lewes. 

Mr. Andrews at Lewes keeps his health so ill that he prays to be 
removed to his native hills of Pa. Sussex on Delaware is as it were 
the Fens of Essex & it is to be feared there will be no stable Mission 
there till a person can be procured who was born in the place & is 
naturalized to it, tho they well deserve notice as a numerous body of 
Churchpeople. 

Letter from Mr. Andrews Lewes April 12, 1769. He continues to 
officiate at St. Matthew's whereat a neat & commodious church is at 
present building of 40 feet by 36, & high enough to admit of galleries 
& two tiers of windows. The Chapel at Indian River being found too 
small a new one is much talked of. The Church at Lewes has been 
considerably repaired, & it is to the bounty of the ladies that they are 
indebted for an elegant pulpit cloth cushion, a Desk cloth &c of crimson 
silk Damask. Among the benefactors were some of the Presbyterian 
denomination. On Xmas Day he administered the Lord's Supper 
at Lewes to 16 persons only, the weather being very cold. On Easter 
at St. Georges to 52. Since Aug. he has Baptized 70 white & 2 Negroe 
children, 1 White & 4 Negroe Adults. He mentions the unhealthiuess 
of the situation & his constitution is greatly injured by repeated attacks 
of Agues & fevers. 

Mr. Andrews desires to leave a Minister in his place in Lewes pro- 
poses Mr. Lyon. 

The Rev. John Andrews, D. D. was the son of Moses and Letitia 
Andrews, and was born in Cecil County, Maryland, 1746. He gradu- 
ated from the College of Philadelphia 1765. In 1767 he was ordained 
Deacon by the Bishop of St. David's, and Priest by the Bishop of 
London. In 1772 he married Mary Callender. He was Rector of 
York, Pa., at that time. In 1810 he became Provost of the University 
of Pennsylvania, in 1813 he resigned on account of ill health. He 
died at the age of 67 and was buried in Christ Church graveyard. He 
is),described as being "tall and dignified and courteous, honest in opin- 
ions, of good judgement, benevolent, cheerful, and a fine conversa- 



236 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

tionalist. He was an eloquent preacher, and a good theologian, and 
won the respect of his students." 

Letter from Lewes July 24, 1769 is leaving Lewes for York & Cum- 
berland. Speaks highly of the kindness of the people of Lewes & 
regrets leaving. On Whitsun Day had 24 Communicants. Since 
April 12, has Baptized 27 children. He arrived at York Dec. 16, 1769. 

Agreed that Mr. John Lyon be appointed the Society Miss, at 
Lewes in Sussex Co. with the former Salary allowed to that Mission 
& that it may commence at Lady Day 1769. 

Letter from the Rev Mr. Lyon, Miss, at Lewes dated Sussex Co 
Oct 24, 1770 acquainting the Society that in the course of the last 
year he had baptized 267 White infants — 2 adult slaves, & 11 infant 
slaves. At Easter had 63 communicants — married 39 couples & buried 
18. The people have bought a glebe, & are endeavouring to erect a 
house upon it, which will render his life more comfortable, provided 
he recovers his health. 

Two letters from the Rev Mr Lyons Miss at Lewes one dated Janu- 
ary 23, 1770, the other April 1, 1771 In the former he excuses himself 
for having incurred the displeasure of the Society so early, whom he 
means ever to respect. He hopes they will judge favourably of his 
removal & he will use more caution for the time to come. His duty 
has been very hard, as he has been urged to go back often to the ex- 
tremes of the County, where he has had large Congregations of grown 
persons who never before attended public worship. He has visited 
them merely out of pity & regard, for generally speaking, he can 
expect no reward from them. He has been greatly indisposed, & since 
last July under the Doctor's care. His family, all sick, more or less. 
He came there 6 in a family, of whom his wife and one more are dead. 
He writes April 1, 1771 that the state of his Mission is growing, & 
promises fair, & his health is better. Since the 2Sth of Oct. 1770 he 
has Baptized 39 infants, married 24 couples, & buried 14 persons. 
Urged by necessity he has drawn a quarter's salary. 

Rev Mr Lyon Lewes Miss. Letter dated New York Dec. 14, 1771 
acquainting the Society that finding himself in a low & poor state of 
health last April, he had retired for a number of weeks to a Northern 
climate' where he has recovered equal to his wishes, & when he wrote 
this letter was upon his return home. He requests some Bibles, Prayer 
Books & pious Tracts. 

Letter from the Rev Mr. Lyons Miss at Lewes dated April 28, 1772, 
in which he writes the same about the protested bills as Dr. Peters, 
adding that the charges on the bill will be suspended, till he hears 
from the Secretary. He encloses a copy of the Notary's Protest. 
Since Easter last he has baptized 2 White Adults & 181 infants, 1 
Black adult & 8 Black infants, married 52 couples & buried 13 corpses. 

Rev. Mr Lyon Lewes Oct. 25, 1772 acknowledges receipt of Secre- 
tary's letter of the 25 of March last, & the books. Wishes there had 
been some of Burkett's tracts, his help & guide to Xtian families, 
for those pieces have been of great use to the people who have been 
prejudiced against the Church. He gratefully mentions the So- 
ciety's favor in answering his renewed bill for £10. but wishes to have 
some directions with regard to the damages of £\i 19s- 3d. with 
interest, which he is liable to paj'. The state of the Mission much the 
same. He has officiated in three churches on Sundays, & at other 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 237 

times preached in remote parts, as far as the borders of Maryland, 
to the number of 86 sermons since he came to the Mission. 

Rev Mr Lyon Lewes April 12, 1773 states that his services have 
been as usual, having Baptized since last Easter 239 White, 27 Black 
infants & 4 Black adults. He intends in future, on every third Sunday 
in the afternoon, to give a Lecture in some part of the Forest among 
the poor people, which he humbly trusts the Society will promote 
by granting some annual encouragement. 

Rev. Air Lyon Lewes Nov. 22, 1773 acquainting the Society that 
the many fatigues of his Mission, together with his indisposition of 
body have determined him to accept of a parish in Virginia. The 
Rev. Mr. Tingley who will be recommended by Dr. Smith is ready 
to supply his place. The parish has purchased a piece of land for 
;£190 Pa Currency, for a glebe, towards which he has contributed 
£10. He has been with the people entirely for 3 months after Easter, 
since which he has been with them occassionally. He has now but 
one petition to leave in favour of the Forest part of the Mission, whose 
lands are under water a great part of the year, they are therefore very 
poor He hopes that his successor will have special directions to visit 
them, at least one half of of the time at present allotted to St Georges, 
which is every third Sunday. He concludes with thanks to the Society 
for their last letter of the 4th of March & for the many favours re- 
ceived from them. 

The Rev. John Lyon was born in New England, and was son of 
Mathew Lyon of Warrington, Lancashire, England. He matriculated 
1743. 

Bishop Meade speaks of the Rev John Lyon who came to St. 
Georges Accomac County Virginia, from Rhode Island. That is a 
mistake. Lyon went to Accomac from Lewes. 

The Society agreed not to appoint the Rev Mr. Tingley until they 
should be better informed about him. 

Letter from the Rev. Mr Tingley Miss at Lewes Nov. 10, 1774 that 
tho. no answer had been given to Dr Peters & the other clergyman's 
recommendation of him to succeed to the Mission of Lewes, he has 
officiated there from Oct. 14 1773, duly attending the several churches, 
which are one more in number than mentioned in the last Abstract, 
Viz. St Georges at Indian River. Besides the duties of his Mission," 
he has frequently officiated in an old ruinous church in the Forest, 
to a poor people, who are 8 miles distant from St Georges. In the 
Winter he has gone to them on Saturdays on his way to Cedar Creek, 
and in the Summer after evening service on Sundays. His churches 
are generally well filled & the people pay great attention. He has 
administered the sacrament 4 times in each church. Communicants 
110. He has baptized 6 white adults, & 202 Children. 13 Black 
Adults & 43 children. Marriages 36. Burials 14. He catechises 
the children in town of Friday afternoons in the church, & hears them 
repeat portions of the Psalms. The Negroes he catechises on Sundays 
after the evening service. He hopes to prove himself a diligent Mis- 
sionary if the Society should be pleased to appoint him. The whole 
Library delivered to him by the Church Wardens consists of the 
following books Burkett on the New Testament, Burnet on 39 
Articles, Barrows Works, 2 vols, folio, Book of Homilies, Archbishop 
Tillotsons Sermon's 1 Vol. folio. Stanhopes Epistles & Gospels 3d & 



238 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

4th Volumes. The Society directed the Rev. Mr. Tingley to use every 
means to recover the missing books. 

Mr Tingley Miss at Lewes in a letter dated June 12, 1775 states 
that it was not until last Good Friday that he had the agreeable news 
of his appointment to that Mission, owing to the Miscarriage of a letter 
from Dr. Smith. He encloses a letter from the Church Wardens of 
Lewes expressing their thanks for his appointment & acquainting 
the Society that he has from the 23d of Nov. 177.3 duly attended the 
duties of his Mission to general acceptance, besides occasionally 
preaching in the Forest. 25 Prayer Books to be sent to the Rev 
Mr Tingley whenever they can be conveyed with safety. 

Rev. Sydenham Thorne of St. Paul's Kent County. 

Rev. Mr Thome dated New York 5th Oct. 1778 which place he 
has obtained permission from those in power to visit, proposing to 
return to his Residence 200 miles oS in the course of a week or two. 
About the beginning of Nov. 1774 he went to his Mission, where he 
was gladly received by the people, who did everything for him that 
his heart could wish for, both as to makeing his own situation easy, 
& also in repairing the churches. , He continued to exercise the 
several Duties of his Calling for nearly three years, & never omitted 
praying for his most Gracious Sovereign, though frequently threatened 
with loss of life, if he did not desist. The Legislature of the State, 
as it is now called, then enacted a Treason Law by which praying for 
the King became a capital offence. In consequence of this he forbore 
preaching in the Churches ; but as occasion required has preached at 
Funerals. He has lately prevailed upon a Religious Good Man to 
read Prayers in the churches, which he hopes may be a means of 
keeping the congregations together during the present times of con- 
fusion. He has been very happy in residing among a people dis- 
tinguished for their Loyalty & Affection to the British Constitution; 
and he cannot recollect a single member belonging to either of his 
congregations who hath taken an active part against the Governrnent. 
They still retain the highest affection for it, & are every day more & 
more sensible of the inestimable benefits resulting from it. Before 
these unhappy disputes, his congregations were large & continued 
growing during the whole time of his preaching. The number that 
commonly attended was between 7 & 800 at each church. The num- 
ber of communicants about 100. Baptisms yearly between 4 & 500. 
Burials about 40. Marriages between 50 & 60. 

His zeal for the British Constitution & the peculiar obligations he 
was under, as a clergyman of the Church of England, urged him to 
oppose the measures of Congress, Committees &ca as far as he 
consistly could. This soon rendered him obnoxious to the Resent- 
ment of that Party, who, at 4 different periods, summoned him 
before their- Committee, & more particularly, for not attending 
church on a fast day appointed by Congress. He was, however, 
always fortunate enough to extricate himself from them, without 
receiving much more Injury, than a little personal abuse. He has 
drawn for ;£40 in favour of Capt. Henry Coupar. Allowed by the 
Society. 

From the Rev. Mr. Tingley Miss at Lewes in Sussex Co., at Cedar 
Creek, & at St Georges at Indian River, dated New York 5th March 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 239 

1782, apologizing for his long silence of six years, owing entirely to 
his situation, so remote & unconnected with New York, & the diffi- 
culties of the time which prevented his writing with any freedom. 
The fury of the persecution in his Mission is much abated. He has 
the satisfaction, however, of informing the Society, that during all 
their late, or present confusions, the members of the Church in his 
Mission have generally been loyal, two or three families excepted, who 
the' Churchmen by profession are Presbyterians by trade. These 
joined with the hot-brained zealots among the Presbyterians, who 
have, almost without exception, been fiery advocates for Inde- 
pendence. Amidst the greatest fury, however, of the political storm, 
the church has been kept open; & in spite of threats of ill treatment 
he has persevered in the faithful discharge of his duty. After the 
Declaration of Independency, indeed, from a regard for the safety of 
liis hearers, his family, or himself, he could not be so explicit, as he 
wished, in praying for the King. Unfortunately for him, his clerical 
Brethren of Philadelphia, far too generally, he thinks, made such 
compliance as are utterly repugnant to the principles, which must 
necessarily be interwoven in the very heart, soul, & mind of a Church- 
man; & so having none of great & established characters to consult 
with, he was left wholly to be directed by his own prudence. He 
verily believes it was by the merciful direction of Heaven itself, that, 
in this trying emergence, when he came to the petition, "O Lord 
save the King" it occurred to him at the moment to say, "O Lord, 
save those, whom Thou hast made it our especial duty to pray for," 
& this form he has continued to use ever since, making also a similar 
alteration in the Litany. He & his people can safely appeal to "the 
Great Searcher of hearts for the integrity of their meaning ; & thank- 
ful as they are for even so much indulgence, they trust they shall be 
forgiven for an apparent, but unavoidable, instance of duplicity. 
Some such management was absolutely necessary; as, had he been 
prevented altogether from preaching, his Flock must needs have 
been scattered. In so critical a situation, he was determined by all 
possible prudential means, to avoid the evil of having his church 
shut up, as foreseeing, that, if this were once done, he should never 
be able to have them opened again, but under the most humiliating 
& dishonourable circumstances. The same predential considera- 
tions determine him still to abide by the same form, tho' somewhat 
different from what he now finds is used by other loyal Missionaries, 
whose judgement he has the greatest respect for; inasmuch as the 
making any alterations now might lead to unfavorable suspicions; 
& he knows there are those who regard him with a jealous eye. Mr. 
Tingley's difficulties & Sufferings, he says, have been many & great; 
but, as the Society have already had many of a similar nature, he 
willingly spares them a circumstantial detail. Some comfortable 
refreshments for himself & his more distressed family were sent to 
them from their relations in New York; but these the Committees 
ordered to be seized; & armed multitudes were full ready, with many 
aggravating circumstances, to put their orders in execution; though 
his weak & dying wife begged a small part only of the things as medi- 
cine. It is a great consolation to him, that both she & his Mother, 
three years ago, were removed to that blessed place where the wicked 
cease from troubling & the weary are at rest. Ever since that time, 



240 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

he has been daily employed in travelling & preaching about the 
County which bounds his Mission; & sometimes by special invitation 
into the adjoining Province of Maryland; always & to the utmost of 
his power, strengthening & confirming the Brethren. In this duty, 
he has travelled at least 3000 miles a year. Notwithstanding his 
frequent preaching, such is the well-known backwardness of people 
in general in those countries to contribute, even according to their 
abilities, toward the decent support of Ministers; such have been the 
necessities of the times; such the rapid depreciation of their paper 
currency; he has been so pinched in his circumstances, that he may 
truly say, he has often scarcely had bread to eat, or raiment to put on. 
The opportunity he now enjoys of drawing on the Society, he is 
truly thankful for, as the expectation of it has been the chief support of 
his spirits, in the many years that he has had hardly any resources, 
but the little sums he could borrow from his friends. Two years 
ago, he had intended & endeavoured to obtain leave to visit New 
York, but could not. Nay, so jealous were they of him, that he was 
not even permitted to see two prisoners, on his return, who had been 
confined there; & from whom he hoped to have learned some tidings 
of his relations there. At length, howe^'er, Providence very un- 
expectedly raised him up a friend, Mr. John Dickinson, heretofore 
celebrated as the Pennsylvania Farmer, & lately chosen Govemour 
of the new State of Delaware; who has procured him a permit to go 
& return from New York, unmolested. The weather has lately been 
more inclement that had been known for many years; & the roads 
also are particularly bad; so that he was eleven days on his journey 
from Lewes to New York, in which he had, when he wrote, been 16 
days; but proposed to return in a few days to his family, his Mission, 
& his duty. He thanked God that he can now .think of with less 
pain, as from a conviction either of the injustice, or the ill policy of 
it, that violent spirit, which, a few years ago, was so intolerant & 
intolerable, is now much abated. The inhabitants of Sussex Co. 
are remarkably subject to Ague & Fever, always in the Fall of the 
year; & Mr Tingley & his family have been & still are exceedingly 
afflicted with it. In the hope, therefore, that the good Providence 
of God, in compassion of both countries, may again restore their 
former happy connection, he takes the liberty now to entreat of the 
Society, to be appointed to any Mission near New York,- his native & 
healthful climate. Being obliged, notwithstanding the better temper 
of the times, to _set out on this journey, with some caution. Mr. 
Tingley had it not in his power to consult & take abstracts of the 
different Registers of his Mission so exactly as the Society requires. 
He is prepared, therefore, now to say only, that he has baptized several 
thousands since he wrote last; & among them many Blacks, from 60 
years old to 2 months. This account may seem extraordinary to 
those who are not particularly well acquainted with the nature of 
the country, in which he resides, & who do not know that there is 
not now another clergyman in a district of an hundred miles in length; 
so that he has seldom performed public service without having at the 
same time 30, 40, or 50 Baptisms. People ride many miles, to enjoy 
the opportunity once more to worship God agreeable to the order of 
their own Church; & bring, with eager delight, their gift & heritage 
that cometh of the Lord, to Him, in the laver of Regeneration. He 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS. 241 

has, moreover, for these three years past, had to encounter with the 
enthusiastic notions of swarms of ignorant Methodists & Anabaptists, 
whose absurdities seem to him to have a direct tendency to overturn 
all order & decency in the Church, as the wretched principles of those 
who call themselves Whigs (a softer name for Rebels!) have to over- 
turn the State. For the reasons above assigned, Mr. Tingley says, 
he has not drawn on the Society since May 24, 1776, so that now May 
24, 1782 the Society owed him six years salary. For this viz. £240 
he now draws in favour of Mess. Edward & William Laight; as it may 
be a long time before he has another opportunity of drawing. 

Rev. Mr Tingley Lewes June 18, 1783 expressing great satis- 
faction & gratitude, on hearing, as he but lately has, that the Society 
have accepted & paid his bills He has again drawn for his salary to 
the 24 May 1783, which he should not have attempted without their 
express permission which he has ■ been favoured with through Dr. 
Inglis. Since he last wrote to the Society he has been employed, as 
he has been for several years, in almost constantly traveling & preach- 
ing in different parts of the Country. He has baptized at least 
between 8 & 900 has married 40 couples & buried 40 corpses; but 
by no means all in his own Mission The number of Communicants 
has greatly increased. 

July 1784 the Rev Mr Tingley had accepted a parish in Mary- 
land In a letter dated May 11, 1784 Somerset Co. Maryland he 
informs the Society that he left the Mission in Sussex Co on Dela- 
ware, the middle of December 1783. 

Mr Sydenham Thome writes from Philadelphia 16th of September 
1782 that it is now almost two years since he resumed the public 
exercise of his profession. A church is to be erected in St Johns 
Town in Sussex Co. about 12 miles from where ?ilr. Thorne lives. It 
is to be of brick, SO feet by 35 & the work is now in such a state that 
he thinks the building will be finished in the course of next Summer. 
Has regularly officiated at Dover since Mr. Magaw left, although 21 
miles away. Wishes to remove to New Castle. 

In 1808 Parson (?) Weenis was here. I do not think he 
was a clergyman, notwithstanding his story about the Bishop 
of London having ordained him. If he had been ordained, 
he could have shown his credentials, his Letters of Orders 
from the Bishop of London. He certainly was very clever. 

The following was copied from Rev. Horace E. Hayden's 
"Virginia Genealogies:" 

Fanny* Ewell, (Jesse', Charles^ Charles",) b. Prince William 
county, Va., Aug. 28th, 177S; d. Aug. 28, 1843, ae. 68; m. 
cir. 1790-5. Rev. Mason Locke Weems, b. St. James Par., 
Ann Arundel county, Md., 1759; d. Beaufort, S. C, May 23, 
1825, ae. 66, son of David and Margaret Harrison Weems. 

Mason Locke Weems was educated in Edinburg, Dr. 
Allen says, "in the church;" was ordained Deacon pro. in 
Eng. by the Lord Bishop of London. 



242 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Returning to Md. he became Rector of All Hallow's Par., 
Md., 1784; had a Female seminary there; was Rector of 
Westminster Par., 1791; went to Va., 1793; he wrote and 
published "The Philanthropist," Dumfries, Va., 1799, 9th 
ed., Phila., 1809; "The Life of George Washington," 1800, 
reached cir. SO editions; "The True Patriot," 1802; "The 
Life of Genl. Frances Marion," 4th ed., 1816; "The Drunk- 
ard's Looking Glass," 1816; "The Life of Benj. Franklin," 
1817; "The Life of Wm. Penn," 1829; "The Old Bachelor," 
etc. All of these works passed through more than one 
edition. 

His "Life of George Washington" was for many years 
a household work. It is the sole authority for the famous 
stories of "the hatchet and the cherry tree," and of the seed 
sown and growing in the name of Washington. These in- 
cidents which Weems records of the youth of Washington 
have in them nothing that is marvellous or even uncommon. 
They are ordinary events incident to the life of many a well 
raised boy. And yet, because Weems has been discredited 
by some writers, and was a man with noticeable peculiarities, 
and these incidents have no other recorder than Weems, 
they have been ridiculed and denied by even historical 
writers. Whatever may have been the character of Weems 
his pretty and natural anecdotes of the boyhood of Wash- 
ington are much more easily ridiculed than disproved. It 
was the intention of the Rev. Philip Slaughter, D.D., Histor- 
iographer of the Diocese of Va., to write an historical sketch 
of the Rev. Mr. Weems, but his death prevented the com- 
pletion of so desirable an undertaking.* 

Bishop Meade knew Mr. Weems personally. He devotes 
two pages to him in "Old Churches," &c. (II., 234-5.) But 
he paints him in with such opposite colours that it is not easy 
to form an impartial estimate of his character. In order 
that some future writer may do Weems justice, a paper is 
reproduced here, from the Southern Churchman, (IS 



* The Weems family of Md. claim descent from David Weems, son of James, 
youngest son of the Earl of Wemys. James having been killed fighting for Charles 
Edward at Preston Pans, his son David was brought to Md. by Dr. Locke. He m. 
Margaret Harrison and had 5 sons, Capt. George, the youngest, b. May 23, 1784; d. 
Mar. 6, 1853; had — i. Thomas, ii. Margaret, iii. Mason l.ocke. iv. Gustavus. v. 
George, vi. Theodore. 

Rev. M. L. Weems was of this line. Rev. Jno. Weems was ord. Deacon bv Bp. 
White, June 24, 1787; d. 1821. Joannefe Weems, Mary Landis, grad. M.D., Univ. 
Edinburg, 1792. Thesis "De Amenorhoea. " Mason Locke is a common name in the 
family. Wm. Black Weems of Md,, b. cir. 1730-5; m. Amelia Chapman, b. July 4. 
1735; dau. of Nathaniel and Constance (Pearson) Chapman. (R. S., 4, 30, 81; 5, 
7, 81.) David Locke Weems had Rachel, m. Jesse Ewell, No, 43, p. 340, Capt. 
William Weems, m. Nancy Ewell, No, 45, p, 340. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RECOUDS. 243 

written by Mr. A. P. Gray, giving Dr. Jesse Ewell's recol- 
lection of his kinsman: 

"Nestling close under the shadow of the Bull Run Moun- 
tains, in the extreme upper part of Prince William county, 
is 'Dumblane,' the quaint old fashioned home of Dr. Jesse 
Ewell, who, regardless of his eighty-six years, still attends his 
suffering neighbors night or day, sunshine or storm, rejoicing 
in the possession of all his faculties. His estimable wife, a 
most devout and staunch Churchwoman, is two years his senior, 
and for more than sixty years they have travelled earth's pil- 
grimage together, and now side by side are going down the 
hill, nearing the great river and in view of the Eternal City. 

' ' Many a charming hour have I spent by their hospitable 
fireside listening to personal reminiscenses of Bishop Clag- 
gett. Dr. Walter Addison, Bishop Moore, the early days of 
Washington City, the war of 1812-15, and the noted men 
of seventy years ago. But the theme on which the Doctor 
most loves to dwell, and one which he always finds in me an 
attentive listner, is 'Parson Weems,' for the Doctor, being 
a nephew of the Parson's wife, lived for twenty years in his 
family, and knowing him well, loved and esteemed him for 
his piety, his benevolence, his earnest devotion to his work, 
his intelligence and his gentleness. Believing that others 
will be interested in one who has often entertained us in 
our childhood hours, I give what I could collect. The family 
seat of the Weemses, who came early to this country from 
Scotland (when the name was spelled Wemyss) , was ' Bil- 
lingsley,' Prince George's county, Md. The birthplace and 
early home of Mason Locke Weems was at Herring Bay, 
Anne Arundel county, on the Chesapeake. His mother's 
family name was Locke. He had two brothers, both older 
than he, David Locke and William Locke Weems, each of 
whom commanded trading vessels plying between the Old 
World and the New. Mason must have travelled with 
them occasionally, perhaps often, for he used to tell of his 
being on the Mediterranean in a turtle shell. He always 
had a great fondness for water and a roving disposition, 
both of which may be attributed to his early training. 

"Says the Doctor: 'Even in his old age he never missed 
an opportunity for a plunge, and I verily believe he would 
soil his hands for the pleasure of washing them! Once in'his 
later years when travelling from Leesburg back to Dumfries, 
just after a snow and a big thaw in early spring, finding a 



244 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

stream he wished to ford very much swollen, he deliberately 
disrobed and waded through to measure the depth and see 
if his wagon could cross without wetting his precious books. 

"He first chose medicine as his profession and with this 
purpose went to Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, but 
while there determined to become a physician of souls, a 
minister of the gospel, and went to London to study theology, 
where he was ordained by the Bishop of London. Of course 
the Doctor could give no proof of his ordination, except Mr. 
Weems' own word, and also that Mr. Weems had a black 
silk gown, which he (Weems) said he had worn at his ordi- 
nation and for which he had no further use. He left Eng- 
land at the breaking out of the Revolution, and returned 
to this country in his brother's ship in 1776. 

"He married Frances, daughter of Col. Jesse Ewell, of 
'Bel Air,' Prince William county, Va., who must have been 
many 5'ears his junior, for the family records show she was 
born in 1775, and died on her birthday, August 28th, 1843, 
aged sixty-eight. The 'Parson' died in 1825, at Beaufort, 
S. C, and was buried there. 

"It was, of course, to the later part of Mr. Weems' life 
that the Doctor bears record. He describes him as of me- 
dium height, well-built figure, clad always neatly but simply 
in black, cut after the manner of the times, with a little 
horn of ink tied to the lapel of his coat and a quill pen in his 
hat. His eyes were dark (not black), his features regular and 
pleasant, his face clean shaven, his head, very bald on top, 
was surrounded with pure white hairs, giving him a most 
venerable and pleasant expression, true index of his character. 

"Besides the lives of Washington, Franklin and Marion, he 
wrote or edited a number of other books and pamphlets, viz., 
'Allan's Alarm to the Unconverted,' 'Dodd's Reflections on 
Death,' 'Davies' Sermons,' 'The Life of Conaro, a converted 
Italian,' 'The Drunkard's Looking Glass,' 'The Gambler's 
Looking Glass,' 'The Adulterer's Looking Glass,' etc. 

"The hfe of Franklin was edited from Franklin's auto- 
biography, and the manuscript of Marion's Life was given 
him by Major Horry (Marion's chief officer), to do with as 
he pleased. These he touched up in his own inimitable 
style to make more interesting and to teach a moral; for 
in every work he strove not only to interest, but to instruct 
in true virtue. Mathew Cary, of Philadelphia, was his 
publisher, and so successful was Weems in selling his own 



ECCLESIASTICAL, RECORDS. 245 

books that Gary gave him ISO per month to sell other books 
published by him. He had a two-horse Jersey wagon, cov- 
ered, but without springs, except that the seat was swung 
on leather; into his wagon he had fitted a bookcase, so ar- 
ranged it could be taken out, placed on the ground and opened 
to display the books without disturbing them. 

"His home was at Dumfries, but he travelled continually • 
from Philadelphia to Georgia and back again, attending 
the various courts along the route, selling his books to the 
crowds there collected, frequently giving them away to 
those who could not or would not buy, always having a word 
of exhortation for each; preaching every Sunday, or other 
day that opportunity offered, in church, court house or 
private residence, wherever he could get an audience, and 
generally having good ones. His long solitary rides gaA-e 
him plenty of time for thought and meditation, and he seems 
to have used it well; for besides his numerous publications 
and frequent preaching, he memorized the most part of the 
Prayer-book services, Collects and Psalms and a large part 
of the Bible ; so that at times he could go through the whole 
Morning or Evening Services, including Lessons and Psalter, 
without opening a book. He was always on the alert to 
pick up information, and prepared to note it down, and 
with his long experience as a traveller, his constant asso- 
ciation with all classes of people, more especially the prom- 
inent men of his day, we may well conceive the fund he had 
to draw from, how entertaining he could be as a guest, and 
how welcomed he was wherever he went. Indeed, with 
what eagerness his books, his news, his company and his 
preaching must have been received, considering the scarcity 
of all these things in those days, and we can readily believe 
the Doctor's accounts of his immense popularity. 

"Though he supported his own family comfortably, he 
gave freely and generously to the needy, and as at that 
time the country was full of French refugees (Huguenots), 
he found many an opportunity to act the good Samaritan, 
nor was he ever known to fail. One of those to whom he 
had been kind in adversity and sickness, being an artist, 
insisted on painting his portrait in return for his kindness. 
This portrait was kept for a long time in his parlor, but 
seems to have disappeared in the mutation of affairs. An- 
other one, to show his gratitude, presented him with a 
violin, which, though plain, was a wonderfully fine one. 



246 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"The Parson was very fond of music, and a good violinist, 
but the Doctor repudiates with indignation the old story 
of his playing for a dancing party behind a curtain, etc., 
as altogether foreign to the nature and character of the 
man. He never carried his violin with him on his travels, 
but kept it carefully at home. Indeed it was difficult to 
get him to play anywhere but at home. He supposes the 
origin of the story to be in the fact that one evening while 
at a friend's house a party of young people returned from 
a wedding, and one of the young people having a violin 
persuaded the Parson to play a few Scottish airs, but there 
was no dancing. 

"The Doctor has vivid recollections of the gentle ad- 
monitions he used to receive from the Parson, but says he 
never heard him utter a hasty reproof. It was his daily 
habit when at home to gather his family together morning 
and evening for family prayers, when they would sing a 
song or hymn, the Parson would recite a portion of Scripture 
and then offer prayer to the Heavenly Father. 

"The name of Weems was early associated in my mind 
with the two books (Washington and Marion) which most 
fascinated me in my boyhood days and stirred my impres- 
sionable mind with admiration for noble and virtuous con- 
duct, as well as pride in our countrymen, and I confess to 
being much disappointed with the brief and disparaging 
account given of the author by the venerable Bishop Meade. 

"Now when, by the light of one who knew him well, I 
consider this historian of our infant republic, writing up 
its noblest men so as to stir the hearts of the rising genera- 
tion to noble and virtuous conduct, this pioneer in American 
literature disseminating good seed broadcast over fallow 
ground, this missionary of the Church supporting himself 
at a time when many of the clergy were either deser.ting 
their posts or squabbling over their tithes, preaching and 
writing against drinking and gambling when many of the 
brethren were doing the same, speaking the word in season 
and out of season from Philadelphia to Georgia, burying 
the dead, baptizing the children, and ministering to the 
needy, laboring even unto the end, my opinion of the man 
is not only restored, but raised, and I can better appreciate 
his books. I. hope this may be the case with others too, 
and that the name of a good man may be redeemed. 

"Arthur P. Gray." 




THE KEV. JAMES WILTBANK, 
Rector of St. Peter's Church, Lewes, Del., 1795. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 247 



ST. PETER'S VESTRY BOOK RECORDS. 



At a meeting of the Trustees, incorporated persuant to 
law, for St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Lewes, in the County 
of Sussex; on Wednesday, the thirtieth day of June, in the 
year of Our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety: 
Members present, Messrs. John Wiltbank, Esq., Reece 
Wolfe, John Russell, Phillip Kollock, Hap Hazzards and 
George Parker. .Absent, Anderson Parker. When, on motion 
of Mr. Hap Hazzard, seconded by Mr. Reece Wolfe, John 
Russell was proposed to be appointed Chairman of the 
Trustees afrd; And thereupon the said John Russell was 
chosen and appointed Chairman, by the unanimous voice 
of the Trustees afrd. then and there present. 

Ordered that the Chairman give notice by letter to Burton 
Waples, Esqr., and the other Trustees of St. George's Epis- 
copal Church in Indian River hundred; requesting that the 
said Burton Waples with as many of the other Trustees as 
may by a majority thereof be appointed, attend a meeting 
of the Trustees of this Church, at Lewes, on Saturday, the 
twenty-fourth day of July next, and that they shall bring 
with them the deed said to be in possession of Peter Rob- 
inson, Esqr., and all other papers and accounts respecting 
the Glebe lands, that order may be taken for securing the 
title thereof; and that the accounts for rent in arrear may 
be settled and adjusted and such other orders taken therein, 
as may be thought right and most advantagious to the 
Churches afrd. 

At which day a majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's 
Church met to wit: Messrs. John Wiltbank, John Russell, 
Anderson Parker and Philip Kollock, who together with 
Burton Waples, Esqr., proceeded to endeavor to settle and 
adjust the accounts of the rent of the Glebe, but for want 
of some of the vouchers for monies paid, could not finish and 
complete the same. Wherefore posponed the business until 
Monday, the twenty-sixth instant, when a majority of the 
Trustees met and on a motion appointed Messrs. Reece 
Woolf, Philip Kollock, Hap Hazzard, and George Parker, a 
committee, who, together with a Committee from St. George's 



248 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Chappel, are to settle with Burton Waples formerly ap- 
pointed a Trustee for the Congregation of St. George's, and 
with Anderson Parker and Johji Wiltbank, also formerly 
appointed Trustees for the congregation of St. Peter's 
Church, at Lewes, for the purpose of renting out the Glebe and 
receiving and accounting for the profits thereof, and also 
ascertain each churches Coto of the Ballances due and like- 
wise to consult and agree on such measures as may be by 
them though best for securing the title of the Glebe lands 
and plantation, for the use of the afrd. two churches. 

At a meeting of the majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's 
Church at Lewes at the house of Mr. William Brereton, on 
Thursday, the ninth day of June, 1791, John, Wiltbank, John 
Russell, Anderson Parker, Reece Woolf, Hap Hazzard and 
Phillips Kollock, absent George Parker, the Committee 
heretofore appointed for to settle and adjust the accounts of 
the rents and profits of the Glebe lands to the Churches of 
St. Peter's, at Lewes, and St. Georges, at Indian River, 
reported that they had settled the accounts, with the Trus- 
tees of St. George's, by which settlement it appears each 
church's coto of the rents of the Glebe, after deducting ac- 
counts for repairs, &c., was Sixty-four pounds two Shillings 
and Seven Pence half Penny, as may more particularly 
appear by an account stated and filed; and thereupon the 
afrd. Trustees proceeded to appoint a Treasurer for St. Peter's 
Church when John Russell was proposed and unanimously 
appointed. Afterwards Reece Wolfe, Hap Hazzard, Phillips 
Kollock, three of the four Trustees, (George Parker being 
the other who was absent) appointed to settle the accounts 
of the rents and profits of the Glebe belonging to St. Peter 's 
Church with John Wiltbank, Esqr., and Anderson Parker, 
gentlemen, late Trustees for that purpose, who reported a 
balance due the church from the late Trustees afrd. of Four 
pounds Eight Shilling and one-half penny as may appear by 
an account stated and filed. Afterward it was considered and 
ordered by the Trustees that the execution of the deed from 
John Evans to Benjamin Burton and others dated the first 
day of December, 1769, for the Glebe lands be proved in 
Court by one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and that 
afterwards the said deed be recorded. And it was further 
considered and ordered by the Trustees that William Harrison 
with a sufficient number of advertisements giving notice of 
the sale of the Glebe at Public Vendue on the Wednesday 



VESTRY RECORDS. 249 

of August Court next at Lewes. And it was further or- 
dered that the Trustees of this Church meet on Saturday, the 
twenty-fifth of this instant, in order to settle and adjust any 
accounts which may be rendered against this church; and 
also with the administratrix or heir of John Road, deed., for 
and on account of the purchase nioney of a lott of land ; by 
the said John Road sold and conveyed by a General 
Warrant, &c., to Daniel Nunez, Jun., deed., and by him 
devised to this Church; which lott of land was under a 
mortgage to loan office of Sussex County, and by virtue 
thereof sold; and it was ordered that John Russell, chairman 
of the Trustees aforesaid, give notice in writing to the ad- 
ministratrix of the said John Roads to appear on the day 
afrd. before the said Trustees, and also to Thomas Mcham 
to render his account for repair on the Church, and to ac- 
count for the rent of the Church lott and afterwards the 
Trustees adjourned to the day afrd. 

At a meeting of a majority of the Trustees, to wit: John 
Wiltbank, John Russell, Reece Woolf, Phillips KoUock, and 
George Parker, at the house of Mr. William Brereton, in 
Lewes, on Saturday, the twenty-fifth day of June, 1791, Mr. 
Hinman Roads, son and sole heir of John Roads afrd. deed., 
in pursuance of the notice given to his mother (and on her 
behalf as well as his own) appeared before the Trustees afrd. 
and after some conversation had on the subject of the lott 
of land, by his father sold to Daniel Nunez, and by him 
devised to the use of this Church, he requested that the 
Trustees would give four weeks or thereabouts, to inform 
himself and consider the matter; to which requisition the 
Trustees agreed. 

Mr. Thomas Mcham also appeared and rendered his 
account for repairs done on the Church, amounting to Seven 
Pounds, Ten Shillings and Seven pence, which amount was 
examined by the Trustees, but not fully settled and adjusted, 
after which said amount was filed amongst other papers 
belonging to the Church with inside of the lease for the Church 
lott. It was also considered and ordered by a majority of 
the Trustees afrd., that the four pounds. Eight Shillings and 
one-half penny, in the hands of John Wiltbank, Esqr., due 
for rent of the Glebe, be by him paid to Mr. Daniel Rodney 
in part of his amount, for materials by him furnished, for the 
repair of the Church. And afterward the Trustees adjourned 
without day. 



250 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

August 3d, 1791, a number of the Trustees of St. Peter's 
and St. George's Churches met and agreed to adjourn the 
sale of the Glebe untill Saturday, the twenty-seventh instant. 
At which day pursuant to the afrd. adjournment, John Wilt- 
bank, Esqr., John Russell, and Reece Wolf, the Committee 
heretofore appointed in behalf of St. Peter's Church, at 
Lewes, and Peter Robinson, Esqr., Robert Burton, and 
Woodman Stockley, the Committee for St. George's met on 
the Glebe and exposed all the right of the Churches afrd. in 
the same to public sale by way of vendue, when the same 
was purchased by the afrd. Peter Robinson at the sum of 
two hundred pounds under the incumberance of the lease 
of Mrs. Davises thirds — one half of the purchase money to 
be paid on the first day of January next ending the sale at 
which time the possession of the lands are to be given, and 
the remaining two-thirds parts thereof to be paid in one 
year with interest, from the afrd. first day of January; and 
that a deed be made to the afrd. Peter Robinson in fee, by 
the surviving grantees in the deed dated the first day of 
December, 1769, from John Evans. Mr. Robinson paid to 
Thomas Wilson, the Vendue Master, Seven Shilling and Six 
pence which is to be allowed him out of the purchase money. 

At a meeting of a majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's 
Church, at Lewes, the fifteenth day of October, 1791, Road 
Shankland, Esqr., applyed to have his bond reed, by the 
said Trustees for the payment of £22 12s. Od. for so much 
paid for and on account of Peter Robinson, Esqr., in part 
pay for the Glebe ; also at the same time Mr. Daniel Rodney 
proffered to pay £21 8s. Id. and give his bond for the payment 
of Fifty Pounds in full discharge of the said Peter Robinson, 
for and on account of this Churche's Cotoa of the money 
arising from the sale of the Glebe, which was considered and 
agreed to by John Wiltbank, John Russell, Reece Wolf, 
Phillips KoUock and George Parker, Trustees then present, 
and on the nineteenth instant the bonds were taken and 
the above sum of money reed, by J. Russell. 

Do give and devise to the Wardens of St. Peter's Church in Lewes- 
town and their successors forever, &c., adjoining lot of heirs of Wm. 
Piles and adjoining land of Rev. Matthew Willson "which lots i 
purchased from John Rhoads shall expend and apply rents issues 
and profits hereafter annually arising out of said lots towards keeping 
the said church of St. Peter's and the burying ground thereunto 
belonging, in good repair. 

Daniel Nunez. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 251 

At a meeting of a majority of the Com.missioners or Trus- 
tees of St. Peter's Church at Lewes the seventeenth day of 
April, 1794, it was agreed that Samuel Paynter, George 
Parker, and Daniel Rodney, Esquire, be appointed managers 
to provide materials and employ workmen to put a new ruff 
on the Church and that they should draw orders on John 
Russell, Treasurer, for monies as so much thereof as may 
be in his hands for that purpose. 

And at the same time, Mr. Elijah Cannon, junior, and 
Mr. Cornelius Wiltbank, Junior, was by the Congregation 
then present, chosen Trustees in the room of Anderson Parker, 
Gentleman, and John Wiltbank, Esqr., deceased. 

And it was further agreed at the same time by the Trus- 
tees that Thomas Mcham's garden be taken on rent for one 
year, at the sum of Thirty-five Shillings. 

At a meeting of the Trustees and Vestry of St. Peter's 
Church, at Lewes, on the eighth day of November, 1794, 
present Reece Wolf, Phillips KoUock, Cornelius Wiltbank, 
Elijah Cannon and George Parker. The Trustees afrd. went 
into the appointment of a Trustee in the room and stead 
of Philip KoUock, who was about to move to George Town, 
and Daniel Rodney, Esq., was unanimously appointed and 
chosen. 

And Hap Hazzard, Esqr., was also nominated and ap- 
pointed by the Vestry present to represent the- Church, of 
St. Peter's afrd. as a lay Deputy in the State Convention to 
be held at Dover the sixteenth day of December next. 

"An account of the Revd. William Skilley the balance 
due as stated being £21 17s. 3d. for ministerial services for 
the year 1792 being laid before the board by Daniel Rodney, 
it was agreed that a sum of money should be raised by sub- 
scription to the amt. 10 or £15 which together with the sum 
due and not collected on the old subscriptions would be suf- 
ficient to discharge the above balance. Elijah Cannon was 
appointed to collect the subscriptions, and ordered to pay 
the overplus (If any) into the hands of the Treasurer of the 
Board. 

At a meeting of the Trustees and a Number of the Con- 
gregation of the Church of St. Peter's, at Lewes, April 11th, 
1795, it was agreed that the pews in the said Church should 
be raised one-third of the price they were formerly at. Also 
that the Congregation should receive the Rev. James Wilt- 
bank as their minister and pay the sum of Sixty Pounds 



252 



SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 



annually to commence at Easter past in consideration of 
his preaching in the said Church one sermon every third 
Sunday A. M. and one sermon once in every third Sunday 
P. M. during the summer season after he has preached at 
St. Georges in the fore-noon. 

Also that Mr. Reece Wolf be and is hereby appointed to 
collect the pew taxes and subscriptions for paying the par- 
son's salary to him and to settle with the committee here- 
tofore appointed to repair the Church, to wit, Samuel Payn- 
ter, George Parker, and Daniel Rodney, Esqr., who are to 
approve of the delinquents (If any) and that he be allowed 
seven and a half per cent, on the sum collected. 

1795, April the eleventh, being the Saturday after Easter, 
John Russell and Samuel Paynter, Senr., were chosen War- 
dens and John Woolf, Jacob Hazzard, John MauU, Senr., 
William Brereton, William Burton, Richard Howard, Wil- 
liam Woolf, Burton Johnson, William Polk, William Cord, 
Joshua Burton, Cornelius Paynter, Walter Hudson, and 
Simon Marriner were chosen Vestrymen. 

It was agreed at the same time that the price of the pews 
in St. Peter's Church should be raised one-third after which 
they would stand at the following rates, vizt: 

No. l-$3 
2- 6 
3-12 
4-12 

5- 6 

6- 6 

7- 6 



9- 8 
10- 8 



Gallery 



No. 11-$12. 




No. 20-$2 


" 12- 6. 




" 21- 4 


" 13- 12. 




" 22- 1 


Parsons Pew S. 


" 2.3- 4 


Clarks Do. 


3. 


" 24- 4 


No. 14- 12. 




■' 25- 4 


" 15- 6. 




" 26- 4 


■' 16- 6. 




" 27- 4 


" 17- 6. 




'■ 28- 4 


7 " 18- 6. 




" 29- 4 


" 19- 2. 







"The whole number of pews at the foregoing rates will 
amt. to 160 Doll's or ;£60." 

Thomas Martin was appointed at the same meeting to 
officiate as sexton, ring the bell, open and sweep the Church, 
&ca., for which services he is to be paid Ten Dollars pr an- 
num. 

January 22d, 1796. A meeting of several_of the Trustees 
and Vestrymen of St. Peter's Church was held in Lewes, 
when George Parker and Daniel Rodney, were appointed 
to settle with the Rev. William Skilly and pay him the bal. 
due for ministerial services. | 



VESTRY RECORDS. 253 

Also Messrs. Cornelius Wiltbank, and William Burton 
were appointed to settle with the Committee which were 
appointed the seventeenth day of April, 1794, to put a new 
roof and other repairs on the Church, the work having been 
completed some time and a bal. still remaining due and 
unpd. to George Parker one of the Managers. 

Lewes, March 28, 1796, being Easter Monday: At a meet- 
ing of a majority of the Trustees, Vestry and other members 
of the congregation, Samuel Paynter, Senr., was unan- 
imously elected a Trustee to supply the vacancy occasioned 
by the death of Hap Hazzard, Esqr., the former Trustees 
being reappointed are as follows, vizt.: 

John Russell, Chairman; Samuel Paynter, Senr., Elijah 
Cannon, Senr., Daniel Rodney, Reece Woolf, Cornelius 
Wiltbank, Junr., George Parker. 

Wardens and Vestry the same as last year, except Samuel 
Paynter, Junr., who was elected in the place and stead of 
Joshua Burton, deed, as a Vestryman. 

Also, It was Resolved Unanimously to receive the Revd 
James Wiltbank as minister to Officiate in said Church every 
third Sunday and that he should be paid for his services 
Fifty Pounds Per Annum out of the monies raised by the 
pew tax. 

Also, Reece Woolf appointed Collector and to be allowed 
7>^pr cent. 

Also, Frederick Row, Clark and to be allowed Twelve 
Dollars pr Anm from the time he began to officiate until 
next Easter. 

Also, Thomas Martin, Sexton, &ca., To be allowed Ten 
Dollars for the ensuing year and 11/3 for services done 
heretofore. 

Also, That Cornelius Wiltbank be appointed Tax Delegate to 
represent this Church in the State Convention the ensuing year. 

Also, That Reece Woolf, Daniel Rodney, and George 
Parker be appointed to let or rent the pews agreeably to the 
rates of Easter, 1795, and repair and cap the brick wall on 
the North West side of the Church Yard, And that Daniel 
Rodney may advance a sum sufficient for that purpose out 
of the money in his hands. 

Agreeable to the order of January 22d, 1796, Mr. Daniel 
Rodney produced a receipt dated Oct., 1796, by which 
it appears he paid the Revd. William Skilly Twenty Dollars 
being the bal. of his acct in full. 



254 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Thursday, March 23rd, 1797, a majority of the Trustees, 
to wit, Samuel Paynter, Reece Wolfe, George Parker, and 
Cornelius Wiltbank, met, agreed to purchase one-fourth of a 
lott of Daniel Rodney and Revd James Wiltbank, adjoining 
the Church yard and to pay them for the same the sum of 
Twenty Eight Pounds out of the first monies that should be 
collected belonging to the Corporation in consequence of 
which appropriation, the said Daniel Rodney and James 
Wiltbank executed a deed to the Trustees. 

April the seventeenth, 1797, being Easter Monday, at a 
meeting of the Wardens and Vestry it was agreed the Wardens 
and Vestry elected last Easter should be continued for the 
ensuing year except Simon Marriner, in whose place John 
Parker was elected as a Vestryman. 

Easter Monday, April 17th, 1797, at a meeting of the 
Trustees, present, Saml Paynter, Elijah Cannon, Daniel 
Rodney, Cornelius Wiltbank, and George Parker, it was 
agreed to rent the old Court House to James Elliott, for one 
year at £25 to be paid quarterly, which^ the said Elliott 
agreed to, and Daniel Rodney was directed to draw a lease, 
to be executed when Elliott moved into the house, the rent 
to commence the 15th Apl. 

October 16th, 1797, Daniel Rodney, George Parker and 
Cornelius Wiltbank, Junr., executed a bond for 73 Dollars 
and 23 cents, Amt due David M. Mcllvaine for work done 
on the old Court House, and delivered the same to George 
Parker for safe keeping until the other Trustees to wit., 
Saml. Paynter, Senr., and Elijah Cannon should execute 
or sign the said bond. 

Easter Monday, April 9th, 1798, at a meeting of the Trus- 
tees, present, Saml. Paynter, Senr., Elijah Cannon, Daniel 
Rodney, Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, and sundry 
others, the Wardens and Vestry of St. Peter's Church, the 
following persons were chosen as Trustees to said Church 
the present year, vizt.: Saml. Paynter, Senr., Elijah Cannon, 
Daniel Rodney, Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, William 
Burton, and Cornelius Paynter, of whom the said Daniel 
Rodney was elected Chairman, in the place of John Rus- 
sell, who resigned in consequence of his removal to George- 
town. 

Daniel Rodney exhibited an account for repairs, &ca., of 
the Court House for the use of St. Peters Church, to the 
amount of Twenty-seven Pounds 9/10, where-upon the Trus- 



VESTRY RETORDS. 2S5 

tees agreed to discharge the said account by discount on his 
bond the balance thereof being Twenty-five Pounds 12/6 
upon which the Trustees directed Mr. George Parker to de- 
liver the said bond to the said Daniel Rodney. All the debts 
settled by mortgaging the old Court House and Church 
Lotts. Balances as settled this day for repairs of the Court 
House as follows: 

To John Parker £3 18s. 9d. 

" Saml. Paynter, Senr 14 5 4 

' ' Mills Mcllvaine a note (suppose) 27 15 

" WiUiam Arnold, pd by C. Wiltbank (sup- 
pose) 23 12 6 

" Robert Brereton pd 6 

" Levi Oliver 6 

" Hester McHams bond from James Wilt- 
bank and Daniel Rodney, prinl 28 

" George Parker 12 9 8 

" Daniel Rodney 1 17 4^^ 

" Caleb Rodney pd £10 by DB 8 12 6 

" Richard Howards bill paid in part by rent 

of Church lott 3 13 10 

" John Rodney £6 9s. lOd. Peter Robin- 
son ;£4 10 9 10 

Money due on Subscription papers. . £143 Os. Ud. 
Walter Hutson — paid by 7 10 

Wardens and Vestry elected for ensuing year, Vizt., Samuel 
Paynter and Cornelius Wiltbank, Wardens ; and John Wolf, 
John MauU, Jacob Hazzard, Richard Howard, William Polk, 
Burton Johnson, Saml. Paynter, John Parker, Danl. Woolf, 
William Cord, and Levin Ennis, Vestrymen. 

Whereas it appears to the Trustees, on settlement of the 
managers amts. to repair the old Court House that after 
applying all the money belonging to the Corporation towards 
discharging the bills there will be a deficiency of one hun- 
dred pounds and upwards as by the bills and bonds on the 
other side entered may be seen. Therefore the said Trustees 
do agree that if any of the members of the Congregation will 
advance the money or otherwise discharge the said demands 
they shall be repaid such sums together with legal interest 
thereon for the payment of which tfie said Trustees will mort- 
gage or pledge the old Court House and appurtenances 



256 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

thereto. Adjourned and agreed to meet again at Lewes, 
on Wednesday the ninth of May, next. 

January 1st, 1799. Three of the Trustees met. Vizt., 
Daniel Rodney, Samuel Paynter, and George Parker; there 
not being a Quorum adjourned till Saturday next. 

Saturday, January Sth, 1799. Trustees met, present, the 
Rev. James Wiltbank; Trustees: Daniel Rodney, Samuel 
Paynter, Senr., Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, Cornelius 
Paynter, and William Burton, being all the Trustees except 
Elijah Cannon. 

At said meeting the Trustees took into consideration the 
resolution of Easter Monday last relative to the debts due 
sundry individuals for the repairs of the Old Court House 
and other demands against the Corporation. Several of the 
members proposed to advance money for the discharge of 
said debts on condition the Trustees would mortgage the 
Old Court House and appurtenances together with the Church 
lot unto them as security and would apply the rents arising 
therefrom (till the whole principal and interest was paid) 
to discharge the same, which proposition was unanimously 
agreed to by the Trustees and other members of the Congre- 
gation present. 

Whereupon Samuel Paynter, senr., paid in cash ;£S 14s. 8d. 
which with the sum of £14 Ss. 4d. due him before made up 
the sum of ;i£20 and George Parker also paid in cash £7 3s. 4d, 
which with the sum oi £12 16s. 8d., due him before made 
the sum of ;£20. Daniel Rodney, James Wiltbank, and Cor- 
nelius Wiltbank each agreed to advance the sum of ;£20, 
Cornelius Paynter and Samuel Paynter, Junr, £20, John Cole 
and Daniel Woolf, ;£20, John Parker, William Burton, ;£10 
between them and Woodman Stockley since agreed to advance 
£10. 

And Daniel Rodney was requested by the Trustees to draw 
a mortgage deed by Saturday next to be executed and de- 
livered to the persons above mentioned. 

Saturday, January 12th, 1799. All the Trustees met and 
Daniel Rodney presented the deed agreeable to their request 
last meeting and the same was executed by Daniel Rodney, 
Samuel Paynter, Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, William 
Burton, and Cornelius Paynter, according to the above 
agreement. Elijah Cannon agreed to pay Peter Robinson's 
debt of £4: amount of his subscription to repair Court House 
which was for £6. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 257 

Cornelius and James Wiltbank produced receipts to the 
amount of £40 from William Arnell, Walter Hudson and 
Robert Brereton is in full for their shares as mentioned in the 
mortgage deed, £40. 

Daniel Rodney also presented his amount for payment 
made to Frederick Row, as Clerk, for two years, one year 
at 10 and one at 12 dollars, £8 5s. Od. ; Do to Hester McHam 
on her Bond £15 9s. 3d., and a balance due him at settle- 
ment of his amount for repairing Old Court House last Easter, 
;^1 17s. 4d., amounting in all to £25 lis. 7d. 

Cr: being balance in his hands for rent of Lott £2 4s. 8d., 
which leaves £3 6s. lid. due him over the sum of ;£20 he 
agreed to advance. 

Daniel Woolf paid his share being ;£10 to Caleb Rodney 
per receipt shown the Trustees. 

John Cole paid his share by taking up Bond from Jno. 
Woolf assigned by H. McHam balance ;£10. 

There remains due from the persons to whom the mortgage 
was made the following sums: 

C. P. pd. Jno. Rodney and Geo. Parker, Mar, 1800. 
Pd viz — from Samuel and Cornelius Paynter ;£20 Os. Od. 
Pd— from WoodnStockley(pd Mills Mcllvaine) 10 • 
Pd — from Wm. Burton (appd to pay D. Rod- ISO 

ney) from John Parker 1 1 3 

pdfromElijah Cannon onSubscriptionpdD.R. 2 



;g38 Is. 3d 

Also the following debts remain: 
Unpd. To Mills Mcllvaine— ;£2 2 10s. Od. paid. 

pd To John Rodney £6 9s. lOd. pd by C. Paynter. 
To Caleb Rodney, pd. £3 15s, Od. bal due $2.35. 
To Daniel Rodney as above £3 6s. lid. £36 19s. 3d. 

Trustees agreed to meet again February 16. 

Agreeably to appointment the Trustees met February 16th, 
1799, and agreed to meet again Easter Monday next. 

Easter Monday, being the 2Sth March, 1799, the Trustees 
of St. Peter's Church, together with the Wardens and several 
of the Vestry, met at the old Court House in Lewes when the 
Trustees, Wardens, and Vestrymen that were appointed 
last Easter (no objection being made) were continued for 
the ensuing year. 

March the 8th, 1800. The Trustees met this day agree- 
ably to notice and agreed to rent the old Court House (and 



258 SOME RECORDS OP SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Church lot at the expiration of Richard Howard's lease) to 
Simon Marriner for one year, he paying the thirty pounds 
rent, to bind himself not to suffer any person to play at 
cards or dice in said house during said term and to cause the 
chimneys to be clean swept at least once a month when fires 
are kept in them. 

Also appointed Daniel Rodney and George Parker to settle 
with James Elliott — the former tenant. 

Agreeably to appointment the committee met Monday the 
tenth of March, after crediting him with the following sums 
vizt.: 

For paint, oil and Jug £,2 17s. 3d. For pails in back 
yard, door &ca. as valued by Isaac Turner andjno. Rodney 
pr their bill ;£4 18s. 3d. and Trustees Bond assigned to him by 
John Cole balance due thereon, ;£10 14s. 3d. 

Also a deduction for the last years' rent the term for which 
he took it not having yet expired, ;£2 19s. 4d. 

There was the sum of ;£19 4s. lOd. due the Trustees towards 
the last year's rent, which the said James Elliott has acknowl- 
edged under his hand. 

By ten dollars January 23d, 1801 and twenty-four dollars 
August 10th, is thirty-four dollars. 

James Elliott also paid George Parker 8/8 dollars. May, 
1800. 

Easter Monday being the fourteenth of April, Anno Dom- 
ini, 1800, several Trustees, Vestrymen and other members 
of the Congregation met and proceeded to business when the 
following officers were appointed, vizt.: Samuel Paynter, Sr, 
Cornelius Wiltbank, Wardens ; Jacob Hazzard, John Woolf . 
John Maul, Richard Howard, William Polk, Burton John- 
son, Samuel Paynter, Junr., John Parker, Daniel Woolf, 
William Cord, Levin Ennis, and Elijah Cannon, Vestry for 
1800. 

Also at same time William Woolf, Esqr., was appointed lay 
delegate to represent this Congregation in the State Conven- 
tion to be held in Dover the first Tuesday in May next, and 
that Eight Dollars be appropriated to pay in to the Treasurer 
of sd. Convention together with his expenses. 

The Wardens and Vestry adjourned and agreed to meet 
again on Saturday the third of May next. 

Saturday, third of May, 1800. The Wardens and Vestry 
met and continued the Rev. James Wiltbank as the pastor 
of this Church for the ensuing year. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 259 

Easter Monday, April 6th, 1801. The Wardens, Vestry, 
and Trustees met at the old Court House in Lewes. 

The Wardens and Vestrymen appointed last Easter were 
continued and appointed for the following year. 

At same time Samuel Paynter, Junr., was appointed lay 
delegate to represent the Church or Congregation in the State 
ConA-ention to be held in New Castle, Tuesday, the fifth 
of May next, and case he should not be able to attend Cor- 
nelius Wiltbank should attend in his stead. And Daniel 
Rodney, Chairman of the Trustees was requested to advance 
to said delegate four dollars as the contribution of the said 
Church to the general Convention also his expenses in at- 
tending at New Castle. 

Trustees for the year 1801: Daniel Rodney, Chairman; 
Samuel Paynter, senr., George Parker, Cornelius Wiltbank, 
William Burton, Elijah Cannon, Junr., Cornelius Paynter, 
were all present except Samuel Paynter, Senr., when it was 
agreed that Daniel Rodney and George Parker should be 
authorized to repair the Church wall and gate. 

Also to rent the old Court House to Simon Marriner for 
the ensuing year for the sum of £27 10s. 

April 6th, 1801. Simon Marriner paid £18 ISs. and 
March the seventeenth 1802, he paid £10 18s. to Daniel 
Woolf for his share of the mortgage which is in full for his 
first year's rent and 13s. towards this year's rent which was 
due March the — , 1802. 

Easter Monday, April 19th, 1802. At a meeting of the 
Wardens, Vestry, and other members of the Congregation, 
present the Rev. James Wiltbank. It was agreed to re- 
ceive him as pastor to ofiiciate in said Church one Sunday 
in four weeks in the forenoon and one Sunday in four weeks 
in the afternoon. 

It was also agreed to appoint John McCracken Sexton of 
the said Church, to give him Ten Dollars pr Ann. for ringing 
the bell, cleaning the Church, &ca., and two dollars extra 
if there should be preaching on other days besides Sundays. 
At same time Samuel Paynter, senr., was appointed a dele- 
gate to represent this Church in the State Convention to 
meet at Lewes the first Tuesday in May next. 

Also Daniel Rodney, Chairman of the Trustees, is di- 
rected to advance four dollars to be paid to the State Con- 
vention towards defraying the expenses of the General Con- 
vention. 



260 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Wardens appointed for the ensuing year are: Samuel 
Paynter, Senr., and CorneHus Wiltbank. Vestry: Jacob 
Hazzard, John Woolf, John Maull, WilHam Woolf, Richard 
Howard, Burton Johnson, Samuel Paynter, Junr., Elijah 
Cannon, John Parker, Daniel Woolf, William Cord, Stephen 
Warrington. Trustees for the present year 1802: Daniel 
Rodney, Chairman; Samuel Paynter, Senr., Cornelius Wilt- 
bank, George Parker, Elijah Cannon, Cornelius Paynter, 
and William Burton. 

Simon Marriner Dr. To a year's rent due March 8th or 

10th, 1802 (agreed at) £21 10s. Od. 

Do By 13s. left or unpaid of the 

last year rent £0 13s. Od. 

By his account allowed for repairs 

at Easter 1803 3 14 1 

By cash at same time. . .'. 20 12 11 25 

Balance due Trustees March 1802 2 10 

To one years rent due March 1803 27 10 

£iQ 
By discounted with Parson Wiltbank towards 

his share of Mortgage 14 IS 

Balance due Trustees £\'i 5 

Due frora James Elliott for principal and interest on his 
settlement April 10th, 1803, £6; which was assigned to 
the Rev. James Wiltbank towards his share of Mortgage. 

Easter Monday, April 11th, 1803. The Trustees, a num- 
ber of the Vestry, and others of the Congregation met this 
day and agreed to continue the Trustees, Wardens, and 
Vestry that were appointed last year, except William Woolf, 
Esqr., in whose place Thomas Warrington was appointed 
on account of Mr. Woolf 's declining to serve. 

Also Daniel Rodney was authorized to pay unto Sarah 
Stockley the amount of Woodman Stockley's share or part 
of the mortgage deed executed by the Trustees to the sev- 
eral persons therein mentioned in 1799, the principal being 

;£10. 

Also the said Daniel Rodney was authorized to pay unto 
John McCracken $6.33, amount being balance due him for 
the last year and out of the money he has received or may 
receive for rent. Also to continue the said John McCracken 



VESTRY RECORDS. 261 

as bell ringer or sexton to open and clean the church, &ca., 
for the ensuing year. 

It was further resolved that Daniel Rodney, Chairman 
of the Trustees, should pay unto William Burton his share 
of the mortgage given him and others by the Trustees in 
the year 1799, the principal of which is ;^S and Interest 
according. 

It was also agreed with Simon Marriner to rent him the 
Old Court House for the ensuing year at ;£2S 10s. pr annum, 
commencing the eighth or tenth of March, 1803. The lot 
below the Church yard on Third Street, except a pound 
round the stable, is to remain in possession of the Trus- 
tees, and it is understood that in consequence of the rent 
being lowered since last year, they are at liberty to rent the 
aforesaid lower lotts to any other person. 

And it was further agreed that Simon Marriner should 
have a credit towards the rent now due from him for any 
sum he should pay unto Parson Wiltbank towards his share 
of the Mortgage due from the Trustees and that Daniel 
Rodney is hereby authorized to pay the balance of said share 
of mortgages out of any money in his hands not otherways 
appropriated this day. 

Statement of the sums due on Mortgage from the Trus- 
tees dated January 12th, 1799: 

To Saml. PaynterSenr. £20— In. 4yrS;£44s.0d.;£24 4s.0d. 
George Parker " " 24 4 

Danl. Rodney 
Cornels. Wiltbank 
Saml. Paynter Junr. ;£10 
Cornels. Paynter 10 is £2Q & In. 

John Parker £5 and 4 yrs In at 6% is 



Paid to Revd. Jas. Wiltbank ;^24 4s. Od. by a note as- 
signed him by Simon Marriner, and a note by D. Rodney on 
James Elliott and cash. John Cole and Daniel Wolfe are 
paid. 

Woodman Stockley and William Burton were paid their 
shares this day; Mr. Stockley was paid £12 8s. Od. and Wil- 
liam Burton £6 4s. Od. 

Easter Monday, April 2d, 1804. The Trustees, Wardens, 
and Vestry met agreeably to notice previously given when 



24 4 





24 4 





24 4 





64 





£127 4s. Od. 



262 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

John Wolfe was unanimously elected a Trustee to supply 
the place of Elijah Cannon, deed. 

The Trustees for the ensuing year will then be: Daniel 
Rodney, Chairman; Samuel Paynter, Senr., George Parker, 
Cornelius Wiltbank, John Wolfe, Cornelius Paynter, and 
William Burton. Wardens elected or continued: Samuel 
Paynter, Senr., and Cornelius Wiltbank. Vestry for the 
ensuing year continued and elected: Jacob Hazzard, John 
Wolfe, John Maull, Thomas Warrington, Richard Howard, 
Burton Johnson, John Parker, Daniel Wolfe, William Payn- 
ter, and Stephen Warrington. 

On the same day the following appropriation of money 
was made, vizt., which the chairman was authorized to pay: 
To pay John McCracken for ringing bell, &c^, 1 10 and he 
was continued at same rate for ensuing year. 

Also to pay the following persons in part of their Interest 
due on Mortgage, vizt: Danl. Rodney, $6; George Parker, 
$6; Saml Paynter, Jun., $3; Saml. Paynter, Senr., $6; Cor- 
nelius Wiltbank, $6; Cornels. Paynter, $3. 

At same time Samuel Paynter, Senr., was appointed 
lay delegate to represent this Church in the Convention 
to be held in George Town in May next. Danl Rodney 
was directed to pay unto the aforesaid Samuel Paynter 
$4, as the contribution of this Church to the General Con- 
vention. 

It was also agreed to continue the Revd. James Wilt- 
bank as pastor of said Church the ensuing year to officiate 
as minister and preach every third Sunday and to be paid 
out of the pew tax that may be collected not to exceed 
one hundred Dollars. 

Simon Marriner paid the sum of £13 10s. Od. 

do To bal. due for rent Mar. 

10th 1803 £1S 5s. Od. 

do To a year's rent due Mar. 

10th 1804 25 10 40 15 



Bal. due from Simon Marriner £27 5 

The afrd. Simon Marriner was continued as tenant in the 
Old Court House for the ensuing year at ;^25 10s. per annum 
and to till the Church Lott in Corn and some potatoes for 
which he is to give one half the produce as rent. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 263 

Due the following persons on the mortgage each 
(exclusive of 6 Dolls, paid this day £2^ Ss Od vize 

George Parker, Samuel Paynter, Senr., Danl 
Rodney, Cornels. Wiltbank, Cornelius and Sam- 
uel Paynter, amt £121 ISs. Od. 

To John Parker 6;^ and S yrs. In. at 6% 7 10s. Od. 



£128 ISs. Od. 
Simon Marriner by cash paid Daniel Wolfe to- 
wards Cedar Rails to fence the Church Lott this 

22nd September, 1804 £ 7 IDs. Od. 

Do By cash paid Saml Paynter, Senr 7 10s. Od. 



£1S Os. Od. 



Easter Monday, April the fifteenth, A. D. 1805. At a 
meeting of the Wardens, Vestry, and other members of the 
congregation of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, Samuel Paynter, 
Senr, and Cornelius Wiltbank were appointed Wardens for 
the ensuing year, and Jacob Hazzard, John Wolfe, John 
Maull, Samuel Paynter, Junr., David Johnson, John Parker, 
Thomas Warrington, Richard Howard, James Elliott, Daniel 
Wolfe, William Paynter and Sylvester Webb were chosen 
Vestrymen for the ensuing year. Also the following per- 
sons were elected Trustees for the ensuing year, vizt: Daniel 
Rodney, Chairman; Samuel Paynter, Senr, Cornelius Wilt- 
bank, John Wolfe, Cornelius Paynter, George Parker, and 
William Burton. 

The Wardens, Vestry and other members present agreed 
to receive the Revd. James Wiltbank as pastor to the said 
Church and pay him One Hundred and fifty Dollars for the 
ensuing year for officiating and preaching in said Church 
every other Sunday. 

Mr. Daniel Wolfe was appointed Collector of the pew tax 
for which service he is to be allowed S% on the sum col- 
lected. 

John McCracken was appointed sexton and to ring the 
bell for which he is to be allowed 12 dollars per annum. 

A subscription paper was drawn authorizing Messrs. George 
Parker and James Elliott to receive voluntary Contributions 
to be applied towards the payment of the Parson's salary. 

All the accounts relative to fencing the Church Lott and 
the Potatoes received for rent were settled and paid off at 
this meeting, and C. Paynter paid 13/1^ for wood. 



264 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Simon Marriner agreed to Rent the House for the ensuing 
year, rent to commence March 10th, 1805, at the same rate 
he had it last year, vizt. £25. 10s. exclusive of the Lott. At 
settlement there appears to be £13 15s. Od. due from the 
said Simon Marriner for arrears of rent the last year. 

The Trustees having paid all the small bills and accounts 
against the Church out of the money received for the rent 
last year, the balance in their hands was £21 Os. Od. which, 
with £5 lis. Od. pd. Aug 17th, when it can be collected, will 
make £26 lis. Od. was appropriated to the payment of the 
interest on the mortgage due to the following persons: 

To Saml Paynter, Senr £4 19s. Od. 

To Cornels Wiltbank £4 19s. Od. Geo. Parker 

£4 19s. Od 9 18 

To Danl Rodney £4 19s. Od. Cornels & Saml 

Paynter £4 19s. Od 9 18 

and to John Parker 16 



£26 lis. Od 
After which there will be due on Mortgage to 
the above mentioned Mortgagees the follow- 
ing sums: 
To John Parker Principal with In. from Jan. 12th £ 6 Os. Od. 
To Saml Paynter Senr & Danl Rodney each £20 40 
To Cornels Wiltbank & Geo. Parker each £20. 40 
and to Cornels & Saml Paynter Junr each £10. 20 



due Jany 12th, 1805 £106 Os. Od. 

Samuel Paynter, Senr., George Parker and Daniel Rod- 
ney were appointed a Committee to Sell the old brick and 
put up a Cedar fence on the northwest Side of the Church 
Yard, and to rent the pews for the ensuing year. 

At a meeting of the Trustees, Wardens, &ca., August 17th, 
1805, Simon Marriner paid £5 lis. towards last year's rent; 
Do paid $8.50 being the amount of one-third of 19^ bushels 
of wheat raised on the Church Lott. 

At same time Daniel Rodney was paid the sum of $8.50 
towards repaying him an amount which he had paid to 
John Jeffreys for Carpenter's work on the Court House. 

Also at said meeting the Trustees present, vizt, Daniel 
Rodney, Samuel Paynter, Senr, George Parker, Cornelius 
Wiltbank, and William Burton, authorized Simon Marriner 



VESTRY RECORDS. 265 

to procure shingles and have a new roof put on the house 
which he agreed to do provided the expense did not exceed 
one year's rent. 

See previous page for the manner the above sum of £5 lis. 
was appropriated, vizt, £4 19s. to Daniel Rodney and 12s. 
to George Parker which was left unpaid of their interest last 
Easter on account of the sum of £5 lis. not then collected. 

November the 2nd, 1805. The Trustees, Wardens and 
some of the Vestry met and appointed Sylvester Webb to 
collect the pew tax and Subscriptions. 

February the 22nd, 1806, at a meeting this day, present 
Daniel Rodney, Samuel Paynter, senr, John Wolfe, Cor- 
nelius Paynter, and William Burton and several of the Vestry 
and other members of the Congregation, Simon Marriner 
presented Isaac Turner's account which he had paid amount- 
ing to $35.04 of which $6.75 appeared to have been settled 

in 1803, balance will be $28.29 

he also agreed to pay Jos. Coutter $1 and for shingles 

to Mr. Long amounting to $61 $62 . 00 

James Holland's bill for work 6.25 

Thomas Warrington's do. for do. after deducting $2 

for his subscription 12.10 

for boarding the Carpenters 4 . 00 

$112.64 

do. to his subscription $4 . 00 

To one year's rent due March 10th 68 . 00 

To balance due for rent March, 1805 •. . 36.67 



5108.67 

m2.64 
108.67 



There will be a bal of $3.97 cents due Simon Mar- 
riner March 10th, 1806 $3.97 

Also the amounts for repairing the Church wall, the kitchen, 
cellar, and putting a new roof on the Old Court House were 
brought in amounting to $162.28, exclusive of Mr. Carlisle's 
bill for Oak board, $112.64, of which Simon Marriner as- 
sumed to pay, for which he is credited above, and $49.64 



266 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

paid out of subscription money except Caleb Rodney's ac- 
count of $13.86. T. Carlisle's bill for board was not brought 
in with the others and is yet unpaid. Thomas Carlisle's bill 
amounting to £4: 10s. 9d. paid by Sylvester Webb. 

Easter Monday, April 7th, 1806. This day a meeting 
was held at the house of Simon Marriner; present George 
Parker, Daniel Rodney, William Wolfe, James Elliott, 
Daniel Wolfe, and Sylvester Webb, when it was agreed on 
account of the small number present to adjourn the meet- 
ing till this day three weeks. 

On the twenty-eighth day of April, 1806, agreeably to 
adjournment, several of the Trustees, Vestry, and members 
of the Congregation met and appointed Sarauel Paynter, 
Junr, and Sylvester Webb lay delegates to represent this 
Church in the State Convention to be held at Milford the 
first Tuesday in May. 

Also the Wardens, Vestrymen and bell ringer appointed 
last year were continued for the ensuing year. 

At a meeting held the twenty-sixth day of July, it was 
agreed to recommend raising the pew tax for the last year 
so as to make up fifty dollars more than the tax amounted 
to before, which was $100; the aforesaid fifty dollars to be 
paid to the Rev. James Wiltl^ank in addition to the sum 
collected for the pews at the old rate. 

It was also resolved to receive the Revd. James Wiltbank 
as pastor of this Church for this year, 1806, and to pay him 
the same salary and in the same manner as he was paid 
before Easter, 1805, vizt: out of the pew tax that could 
be collected and voluntary subscriptions. 

1807. At a meeting of the Wardens, Vestry, Trustees, 
and other members of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, this 
thirtieth day of March, being Easter Monday, the Wardens, 
vizt. Samuel Paynter, Senr. and Cornelius Wiltbank, ap- 
pointed last year, were continued for the ensuing year. 

The Trustees are Daniel Rodney, Samuel Paynter, Senr., 
Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, John Wolfe, Cornelius 
Paynter, and William Burton. 

The Vestry for the last year were John Wolfe, Jacob Haz- 
zard, Thomas Warrington, Daniel Wolfe, Samuel Paynter, 
Junr., David Johnson, John Parker, Richard Howard, James 
Elliott, Sylvester Webb, and John Maull, Senr. ; who were 
continued for the ensuing year and Charles M. Cullen was 
also appointed a Vestryman for the ensuing year. 



VESTRY RECORDS. 267 

At same time Simon Marriner paid £30 for his rent due 
the tenth of this month in the following manner: — A Bill for 

Latches, plank, &ca $2 . 93 ■ 

A bill over paid by him last year 3.97 

$6.90 
And cash 73 . 00 

80.00 

Also Samuel Paynter, Senr., and Daniel Rodney .were 
appointed lay delegates to represent this Church in the 
State Convention to be held the first Saturday in June, and 
Daniel Rodney was directed to pay four dollars as the Con- 
tribution of this Church to the General Convention. 

It was agreed by a majority of the members present that 
the Trustees should sell that part of the Church lott which 
lays between the public ditch and Fourth street and that the 
same should be advertised to be sold on Saturday week next. 

Also Daniel Rodney was authorized to pay John McCrack- 
en for his services in ringing the bell, &ca., $12 for the last 
year; and the above mentioned lott was sold, at the time 
appointed, unto Caleb Rodney who gave a note for one-half 
the purchase money payable in three months for the sum of 
;£25 and the residue being ;£2S more payable next Easter. 

The first of the above notes were paid and applied by the 
Trustees towards getting timber and materials for building 
the new church. 

1808, August 29th, the other note from Caleb Rodney was 
discharged by his account for nails and other articles fur- 
nished for the new Church. 

Easter Monday, April the 18th, 1808. At a meeting of a 
number of the Vestry and other members of St. Peter's 
Church, at Lewes, the Wardens and Vestry appointed last 
year were continued for the ensuing year. 

At same time Simon Marriner paid cash $40 . 00 

Also his bill for repairs 9.81 

Jno West, Isaac Turner & Jos Coutters do 9.87 

$59.68 
To his rent due last month 80 . 00 

due St. Peter's Church from Simon Marriner towards 

last year's rent $20.32 



268 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The above was settled by bill for porch and cash April 
3d, 1809. 

August 29th, 1808, the Wardens, Vestry. Trustees and 
other members of the Congregation of St. Peter's, at Lewes, 
haA'ing agreed to build a new* church of the same size of the 
old one and to set it about thirty or forty feet to the south 
and west of the old Church, which was so much decayed that 
the carpenters and others considered it would not bear 
repairing, the new Church was raised in June, and was so 
far ready and prepared for the congregation to meet in and 
hear a sermon delivered by the Revd James Wiltbank, 
yesterday. 

September the fifteenth, 1808, the new Church was this 
day completely finished and the workmen discharged; being 
about three months in building from the time it was raised. 

Easter Monday, April 3d, 1809. This day the Wardens, 
Vestrymen and other members of the congregation of St. 
Peter's, at Lewes, met at Simon Marriner's and re-elected 
Samuel Paynter, Senr.. and Cornelius Wiltbank, Wardens, 
Vestrymen elected this year are: John Wolfe, William Wolfe, 
place of Jacob Hazzard, deed., Samuel Paynter, Junr., David 
Johnson, John Parker, Senr., Thomas Warrinton, Daniel 
Wolfe, Richard Howard, John Maull, Senr., Sylvester Webb, 
Charles M. Cullen and James Elliott — 12. Also Charles M. 
CuUen and John Parker, Sent., were appointed to represent 
this Church in the Convention to be held at Milford this year. 

Daniel Rodney, Chairman of the Trustees, was also re- 
quested to pay the delegates $4 for the annual contribution 
to the Convention, and to pay John McCracken the sexton 
$12 for his services in ringing the bell, &ca., for the year past. 

At same time a full settlement was made between the 
Vestry and the Revd. James Wiltbank in which it was agreed 
by the Vestry to release any claim they had against him for 
arrears of subscriptions and by the Parson to release any 
claim which he had for arrears of salary, &ca. 

Simon Marriner settled his rent due the tenth of last 
month in the following manner: 

By a note of James and Thomas Prettyman due in 

July, which was assigned to Thomas Warrington $25 . 00 

Another note on do due in March next 25.00 

And cash paid to Daniel Rodney 30 . 00 

$80.00 



> ^"1 




ST. PETER'S. 1808 
(Second BuildingJ 



vestry records. 269 

St. Peters Church at Lewes. Dr. 
1808. 

Octr. 6. To amt Brot. over £122 4s. 4d. 

l^th. To candles to light Church for 

Parson Weems 1 10^ 

To paid Isaac Turner the bal. 

of his bill 4 15 6 

To do John Parker (Farmer) . . 

To do John Orr the bal. of his 

. bill 7 11 10 ■ 

To pd John McCracken for 

ringing bell &ca 4 10 

1809. ^ ^ 

April 3rd. To pd John Little Junr IS 

6th. To pdThos. Warrington 26.71.. 10 5 4 

June 2d. pd. Charles M. Cullen Esq for 
the Annual Contribution of 
this Church to the Conven- 
tion .1 10 

John M. West for Cedar 4 8 11 

1810. -^ 

Jan. 18. Gave Isaac Turner an order on 
Wm Steel Senr for his sub- 
scription amtg. to $6.00. . . . 
Mr. Wiltbank pd. Mr. Carlisle 
for 2808 feet of Laths £4. 
14s. 4d 

April 23d. To Cash paid Chas. M. Cullen 
the bal. of his bill for Boards 
for Church 1 6 3 



£156 19s. Id. 
27. Paid Wm Harris the bal of his 

Bill for work on the Church. 3 15 1 
July 13. Paid Sylvester Webb for the 
Annual Contribution of this 
Church to the State Con- 
vention 110 

Paid Richd Enos for cleaning 

Pulpit &c 8 5 

Sept. 19. Cash paid Thos. Rodney for 
Oil & Paint for the outside 
' of the Church $40.00 15 



£177 12s. 6d. 



270 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

1811. 

May 20. Cash paid Caleb Rodney for 

Well Sweep &c lis. 3d. 

" Isaac Turner for 
putg. it up 3 9 

June 1. Cash paid John Milby for 1500 

Bricks & Lime 7 17 6 

11. To a hhd of Lime |6, porterage 

&c 3s. 9d 2 8 9 

Aug. 20. Paid Wm. Wolfe Esq. $14 the 
balance of his act. for Tim- 
ber & hauling for Church 
yard after deducting |10 
which he subscribed 5 5 

Sept. To pd. Scipio and George for 

Sawing Timber for capg 11 2 



£194: 19s. lid. 
1812. 

May 29. To Is. 6d. pd Postmaster 1 6 

Sept. 7. To Cash paid Mrs Bell admr 
of the Rev. Hamilton Bell 
towards his salary 49.50. .. . 18 3 9 



£213 3s. 2d. 



Easter Monday, April the 23rd, 1810. At a meeting of the 
Wardens and several others of the Congregation of St. Peter's 
this day, it was agreed to appoint Thomas Rodney and James 
Long as Vestrymen in the stead of James Elliott and Richard 
Howard and to continue the other Vestrymen and Wardens 
that were appointed last year for the ensuing year. Also 
Charles M. CuUen and Sylvester Webb were appointed as 
lay delegates to represent this Church in the Convention 
which is to meet in Milford the first Saturday in June next. 

At same time Samuel Paynter, Senr., Daniel Rodney, 
George Parker, Cornelius Wiltbank, and John Parker, Senr., 
agreed that the mortgage given to them and others by the 
trustees in 1799 for the Church lotts and buildings should be 
discharged and that satisfaction should be entered thereon 
and on the margin of the Record. 

Simon Marriner also paid his rent for the last year in the 
following manner: — 



VESTRY RECORDS. 271 

Cash paid to Daniel Rodney C of Trustees $64.00 

and bills for repairs &ca allowed 16.00 



$80.00 



This year, 1810, we have had no stated preaching the Revd. 
James Wiltbank having removed to Holmesburgh in Pen- 
sylvania. 

Easter, April ISth, 1811. At a meeting this day the 
Wardens and the Vestry for the last year were continued 
and appointed for the ensuing year. 

Hamilton Bell was ordained Deacon on Sunday, Septem- 
ber, 1747, in the Chapel of Fulham Palace. He was born 
in Dumfries, Scotland. 

The "Wardens and Vestry agreed to receive the Revd. 
Hamilton Bell as their Pastor to officiate in this Church every 
other Sunday, or once in two weeks during the year from the 
third Sunday before Easter and to pay him for said service 
one hundred and fifty dollars which sum they propose to raise 
by pew tax and subscription. 

Simon Marriner paid in cash $65. 30 

do by a bill for steple & repairs 4.70 



$70.00 



leaving a bal of $10 due. . . .for last year. 

March 1812 By cash $10 by Mrs Marriner in full for 

1810 10.00 



$80.00 



The Revd. Hamilton Bell died the twenty-sixth of Novem- 
ber, 1811, at his house in Dagsbury Hundred and was buried 
the twenty-eighth at Broad Creek Church. 

So read the entries in the minutes of St. Peter's Vestry. 

The Rev. Hamilton Bell was called to "officiate in Lewes, 
every other Sunday, or once in two weeks diiring the year 
from the third Sunday before Easter." This was Easter 
Monday, April IS, 1811. 

The Rev. Hamilton Bell left two children, Elizabeth 
Hamilton Bell, and Mary Eleanor Bell. Mary Eleanor was 
under fourteen years of age at the time of her father's death. 
John Polk, merchant, of Little Creek, became their guardian. 



272 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Rev. William Wickes was here in 1816. He was 
ordained Deacon by Bishop Seabury. Deposed, 1825. 

The Rev. John Forman became Rector of St. Peter's parish 
August, 1817. November 27th, 1820, he resigned. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, Easter Monday, April 4th, 
1836, the Rev. C. E. Pleasants acted as chairman. He had 
resigned before March 27th, 1837. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, Monday, March 31st, 1834, the 
Rev. Nathan Kingsberry was present as Rector. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, Easter Monday, 1835, a com- 
munication from the Rev. Nathan Kingsberry stated that 
he had given up his charge in Sussex County on account of 
ill health, and had removed to New York. 

At a meeting of delegates from five churches (Georgetown, 
Laurel, Dagsboro, St. Peter's, and St. George's) it was agreed 
to receive the Rev. Daniel Higbee as their Pastor. 

December 10th, 1821, Daniel Higbee gave a receipt for 
$20y'\/'-5 towards his services as Rector of St. Peter's Church. 
St. Peter's was to pay llSOj"^"^ a year, and the other churches 

S120AV 

At a meeting of the Vestry April 20th, 1829, there is no 
mention of the Rev. Daniel Higbee. 
Simon Marriner died July 2nd, 1811. 

Simon Marriner Dr. to a year's rent from March 10th, 

1811, to March 10th, 1812 $80.00 

By bill for repairs $ 6.00 

By cash 50.00 56 00 



Bal due Trustees . . $24.00 

Sarah Marriner, the widow of Simon, agreed to rent the 
Old Court House the ensuing year at ;£30 per annum, the 
rent to commence the tenth of this inst. March, 1812. 

September 7th, 1812, paid Mrs. Bell $49.50 cents, which, 
with $50.50 paid to the Revd. H. Bell in his life time, amounts 
to $100, leaving a balance of $50 yet due him. 

September 28th, Mr. Webb left $30 which he had collected, 
Octr. 7th Mr. Webb left $10 which he had collected for Mrs. 
Bell, and $10.50 pd her by Daniel Rodney, at Georgetown, 
or to Mr. Cooper for her use, is in full of her husband's salary. 

Easter Monday, March the 30th, 1812. At a meeting of 
a number of the congregation this day the Wardens, Vestry 
and Trustees heretofore appointed and elected were continued 



VESTRY RECORDS. 273 

for the ensuing year as follows: Wardens: Samuel Paynter, 
Senr., Cornelius Wiltbank. Vestry: John Wolfe, Samuel 
Paynter, Junr., James Long, John Parker, Senr., David 
Johnson, John MauU, Senr., Sylvester Webb, Daniel Wolfe, 
Thos. Warrington, Thomas Rodney, Charles M. Cullen, and 
AYm. Wolfe. Trustees: Daniel Rodney, Chairman; Samuel 
Paynter, Senr., Cornelius Wiltbank, George Parker, John 
Wolfe, Cornelius Paynter, William Burton. 

At same time it was resolved that Daniel Rodney should 
prove the account against Simon Marriner, deed., for balance 

of Rent due March 10th, 1811 $10.00 

for a years rent due do 1812 80.00 

for balance of his subscription to New Church 5.00 

for his pew tax for 1811 3. SO 

$98.50 
By repairs in the lifetime of S. Marriner 3.00 

$95.50 

By do made by the widow $3.00 

By cash paid do. 60.00 

By discounts for pew tax and subscription. . . 8.50 
By cash received for balance 24.00 

95.50 

Reed' for Rent in May, 1813 $70.46 

in repairs as settled 9.54 



$80.00 



Easter Monday, 1813, in consequence of the war between 
the United States and Great Britain, and the Town being 
filled with Militia no meeting of the Wardens and Vestry 
took place. 

1814, April 11th. George Parker was appointed a Church 
Warden vice Cornelius Wiltbank deceased. Reed for rent 
in cash $71.93, repairs $8.07. 

1815. At a Stated Annual Meeting, Easter Monday, 
March the 27th, A. D. 1815, at the house of Mrs. Marriner, 
in Lewes, of the Wardens, Vestry, Trustees, and part of the 
Congregation, for the purpose of appointing and continuing 
the Trustees and other Officers, George Parker, Senr., was 
continued and appointed one of the Church Wardens; Cor- 



274 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX C.OUNTY. 

nelius Paynter appointed Church Warden in the place of 
Samuel Paynter, Senr, deed. Vestry continued: — ^John 
Maull, Senr., John Parker, Senr, William Wolfe, Daniel 
Wolfe, Thomas Rodney, James Long, David Johnson, and 
Thos. Warrington; Wm. Futcher, appointed; also William 
Paynter, Wm. Burton, John Milby, Anderson Hudson, ap- 
pointed; David Paynter and John Parker, Junr. Trustees 
continued and appointed, vizt: Daniel Rodney, Chairman; 
George Parker, Senr, Cornelius Paynter, William Burton, 
William Wolfe, Samuel Paynter, and Thomas Rodney. 

It was also resolved that the Trustees should lay out a 
part of the money received for rent in repairing the Court 
House putting up a partition, painting the roof of it, and 
the Northeast side of the Church, pointing the cap of the 
Church Wall, &ca. 

Received this year in cash $61.42 

in repairs 18.58 



$80.00 



Easter Monday, 1816. The Wardens, Vestry, and Trus- 
tees appointed last year were continued for the ensuing 
year. 

Sarah Marriner to one years rent $80.00 

By her acct as settled for repairs S12.21 

By cash paid D Ry.— C. of T 67.79 



$80.00 



At a meeting of several of the Vestry, Wardens and Trus- 
tees the twenty-seventh of May, 1816, Thomas Rodney, 
and John Parker, Junr., were appointed the delegates to 
represent this Church in the State Convention, to be held 
at Milford, on Saturday the first of June next. Four dol- 
lars were sent by them as the contribution of this Church 
and $3.22 paid to them on their return for their extra ex- 
penses, by Chairman of Trustees. 

Easter Monday, April the 7th, 1817, at a meeting of the 
Wardens, Vestry, and Trustees, the officers appointed in 
181 S and continued last year were continued for the ensuing 
year. 

Also it was agreed that the Chairman of the Trustees, 
should contribute and pay Thirty dolls, to the Missionary 



VESTRY RECORDS. 275 

Society of the State of Delaware and four dollars to the 
Convention. 

Thomas Rodney and Daniel Wolfe, were appointed to 
represent this Church, as lay delegates in the State Con- 
vention, to be held in Milford, the first Saturday in June 
next. 

Sarah Marriner paid $80 for a year's rent due tenth of 
last month ; her amount for repairs to be taken out of this 
year's rent. 

Mrs. Sarah Marriner died on Sunday the thirteenth of 
April, 1817. 

The Wheat on the lott was cut and not taken off till 
August. 

"16th February 1818 Received of Daniel Rodney, the sum of 
fifty dollars, on account of my services as Rector of the Parish of St. 
Peters at Lewes. 

"John Forman." 

The Revd John Form.an was received by the parishes of 
St. Peter's and St. George's as their Rector in August or Sep- 
tember last, at which Churches he was to preach once in 
three weeks, at one in the forenoon and the other in the 
afternoon, for the annual compensation of two hundred 
dollars or one hundred for each Church, as it was under- 
stood, and perhaps one-third of fifty dollars, may be ex- 
pected from the above mentioned Churches. 

Easter Monday, March 23d, 1818. A meeting of the War- 
dens and Vestry of St. Peter's took place at the house of 
Thomas Warrington, at which it was resolved or agreed that 
all the officers appointed in 1815 and since continued, (except 
John Parker, Jun., and David Paynter who have moved out 
of the Parish), should be continued for the ensuing year; 
also that George Parker and Thomas Rodney should be a 
committee to rent the pews; also that Thomas Warrington 
who moved into the Old Court House in December last 
should have the house at the same rate Mrs. Marriner had, 
vizt.. Eighty dolls, per annum. The rent was to com- 
mence at November Court, about the twentieth of Novem- 
ber. 

The Trustees agreed to take the stable and carriage house 
of Reece Marriner, the admc, at the appraisement, $12, which, 
deducted from $35 left $23 due for last year's rent. 

Charles M. CuUen and Daniel Wolfe appointed to attend 
the Convention to be held at Dover in June next. Delivd M. 



276 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Cullen |4 as the annual contribution from this Church, also 
$4.75 for his expenses. 

The Revd John Forman, Rector; Easter Monday, April 
the 12th, 1819. At a regular Stated Meeting of the War- 
dens, Vestry, Trustees and Congregation of St. Peter's, at 
Lewes, held at the house of Thomas Warrington, or the 
old Court House this day, the following officers were con- 
tinued and appointed, vizt: Wardens: George Parker and 
Cornelius Paynter. Trustees : Daniel Rodney, Chairman, 
George Parker, Cornelius Paynter, William Burton, Samuel 
Paynter, Junr., Thomas Rodney, and Charles M. Cullen, 
appd. Vestry: John Maull, Senr, Daniel Wolfe, John Parker, 
Senr, James Long, William Futcher; Thomas Warrington, 
John Milby, Anderson Hudson, William Paynter, David 
Johnson, John Wiltbank, Burton Stockley, Kendle Batson, 
Reece Woolfe. Also Charles M. Cullen, Daniel Wolfe, and 
John Wiltbank were appointed to represent this Church as 
lay delegates in .the State Convention to be held in Dover 
on the first Saturday in June next. 

February 20, 1776. 

The bonds put into Mr. George Parker's, Jr., hands this 
day, April 21st, 1836: . 

Thomas Coleman $227. 4S 

Henry Myers 83 . 00 

John M. West 115.00 

Christopher Lekats 90 . 00 

John Sweney 112 . 50 

Gideon Burton 200.00 

The following gentlemen were continued Wardens, viz. ; 
George Parker, Sr., and Daniel Rodney. 

The following persons were elected vestrymen for the 
ensuing year, viz.: William Fletcher, George Parker, Jr., 
George Hickman, Gov. Samuel Paynter, Robert Burton, 
Thomas Coleman, Kendal Batson, William Marshall, Sr., 
William Paynter, Albert Burton, John Marshall, John H. 
Burton, John Rodney, Jr., David J. Marshall, and Henry F. 
Rodney. 

The following persons were appointed to represent this 
church in the State Convention to be held in this church in 
June next, viz.: George Parker, Jr., Henry F. Rodney. 

Easter Monday, March 27th, 1837. — At a meeting of the 



VESTRY RECORDS. 277 

"Wardens and Vestry, & others, this day the s*^ officers 
app*^ last year were Continued for the ensuing year. 

At the same time Saml. Paynter, Sen'', and Henry F. 
Rodney were app"* lay Delegates to Represent St. Peter's 
Church in the State Convention to meet at Milford. 

The Committee app"^ in April last with the same power 
then giA'en were Cont"^ except John H. Burton in whose place 
John Marshall was Chosen for the ensuing year. At the same 
time Governor Paynter, John Marshall, and John Rodney, Jr., 
were app"^ to meet other delegates of the different Congre- 
gations, to Consider the propriety of procuring a Pastor to 
Officiate in the Churches lately under the charge of the Rev. 
Mr. Pleasants. 

January 10th, 1838. — At a meeting of the Wardens and 
Vestry, it was Resolved that three Delegates be appointed to 
meet the Delegates from the other parishes at George Town 
on Tuesday next, to take measures for procuring the services 
of a Clergyman. 

Col. Samuel Paynter, George Parker, Jr., and Henry F. 
Rodney were appointed. 

Resolved that the Treasurer of this parish be authorized 
to pay its quota of the expense of the present Visit of the 
Rev. Mr. McJCiim. 

The Delegates above app"^ met others from Indian River, 
Dagsboro and George Town, and agreed to receive the Rev. 
Mr. McKim as their Minister, and make up a reasonable, or 
adequate compensation for him. 

Easter Monday, April 16th, 1838. — There being but a 
small meeting the officers app"^ for last year will be con- 
tinued this year, viz. : Daniel Rodney and George Parker, 
Wardens. Vestry: — George Parker, Jr., George Hickman, 
Thomas Coleman, Albert Burton, John H. Burton, John Rod- 
ney, Junr., Robert Burton, Samuel Paynter, William Mar- 
shall, Sr., William Paynter, John Marshall, David J. Mar- 
shall — 12. Trustees: — Danl. Rodney, Saml. Paynter, Thomas 
Coleman, George Parker, Senr., George Hickman, Cornelius 
Paynter, Rev. Mr. McKim, Pastor. 

March the 9th, 1839. — Several advertisements were put 
up in public places for the Election of a Trustee in the place 
of William Burton, Esq., dec"^. Elect" to take place Thursday, 
March 21st. 

March 21st. — Trustees present as below, also Vestry W". 
& John Marshall, Albt. Burton, John H. Burton, Thomas 



278 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Norman, S. John Rody, &c., at which time it was resolved 
that an action of Trespass be brought ag'. Ferdinand Schey, 
for encroaching on the Church yard or Burying Ground of 
St. Peter's, Lewes. 

George Parker, 
Danl. Rodney, 
Samuel Paynter, 
Robert Burton. 

Easter Monday, April 1st, 1839. — Officers continued in 
office Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed 
Lay Delegates to represent Saint Peter's church in the State 
Convention to be held at Seaford in May next. 

September 26th, 1839. — At a meeting of the Wardens, 
Vestry, &c., of Saint Peter's Church, held pursuant to a 
Public Notice, it was resolved unanimously to call the Rev. 
Mr. AVhitesides, who has lately paid a visit here from Philada. 
as Rector of Saint Peter's Church, and guarantee the sum 
of two hundred dollars, certain — and any further sum that 
can be raised beside the said $200 jSj^Qj- as our part of his salary 
for one year. 

2d. Resolved that this meeting request that each of the 
parishes, viz.; Dagsboro, George Town & Saint George's 
Chapel should act upon the proposition as soon as possibly 
con\-enient, and say what certain sum each Congregation 
would give for the support of the said Rev. Mr. Whitesides 
and forward the same to the Wardens of Saint Peter's Church 
at this place, to be by them forwarded to the Rev. Mr. 
Whitesides. Provided that those Parishes should agree to 
call the said Clergyman, and in case a union can not be made 
with the said Parishes (as has been heretofore) then it is 
recommended that this Parish try to effect a union with 
Milford. 

Easter Monday, April 20th, 1840.— The same Wardens, 
Vestry, and Trustees continued in office. 

Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed to 
represent this church in the Convention to be held in Milford 
— and John Rodney and John H. Burton also appointed in 
case either or both of the other delegates could not attend. 
At the same time John Rodney was appointed the Treasurer 
of Saint Peter's church in the place of George Parker, Jr., 
who was not in attendance at the meeting this day. 

Wednesday, October 28th, 1840. — At a meeting then held 
pursuant to regular notice given with regard to the calling of 



VESTRY RECORDS. 279 

a Minister, it was then agreed after due deliberation, to call 
the Rev. John Reynolds, now living in Milford, Kent County, 
Delaware, provided a full majority of the Vestry & Ward- 
ens should sign a call of invitation to the said Rev. John 
Reynolds for said purpose. A letter of Invitation was then 
agreed to be made out and a copy recorded below, viz.: 

"Lewes, Sussex County, Del. 
"Nov. 2, 1840 
"Rev". John Reynolds 

"Dear Sir: — We the undersigned wardens, and a majority of the 
Vestry men of Saint Peter's church in Lewes Sussex County Del^'' 
are desirous of having regularly preformed in said Saint Peter's church 
— The divine services of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Do here- 
by respectfully offer to your consideration the following proposition. 
Namely, that you take into your charge the said Saint Peter's 
Church and perform Episcopal services in the same every other 
Sunday for one year. 

"For which we do agree to pay you the sum of One Hundred and 
Seventy Five Dollars, certain per annum, and do Further promise 
to increase that sum to two Hundred Dollars provided that it can be 
raised by subscription. 

"Dan"- Rodney 
"George Parker 

Wardens 
"John Marshall 
"Albert Burton 
"William Paynter 
"George Parker Jr. 
"John Rodney 
"John H. Burton 
"William Marshall 
"Robert Burton 
"David J. Marshall" 

Vestry Men 

N. B. — This above call of invitation was accordingly ac- 
cepted by the said Rev* John Reynolds. 

Feb. 23d, 1841.— Capt. W". Brock Dr. for Burying his 
child in the yard this day $1.50. 

March 27th, 1841. — Capt. Wm. Brock gave bond to Saint 
Peter's Church for Ninety two & f| Dollars, for property 
on Market St. 

Easter Monday, April 12th, 1841. — At a meeting held this 
day in Saint Peter's church Albert Burton was called to the 
Chair and John Rodney appointed Secty. 

Owing to the unfaA'orable state of the weather there were 
but few persons present, no business transacted and no 
election. 



280 SOME RECORDS OP SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Resolved to adjourn until Saturday afternoon next at 
2 Oclock. 

Saturday afternoon, two Oclock, April 17th, 1841. — The 
members of the church met pursuant to adjournment 
Daniel Rodney was called to the Chair and John Rodney 
appointed Secretary. 

Present at this meeting, Vizt. Daniel Rodney, John H. 
Burton, Joshua S. Burton, William Skellinger, David J. 
Marshall, Albert Burton, Robert Burton, George Hickman, 
Thomas Norman, Richard Paynter, Peter Warrington, John 
Rodney. 

The following persons were appointed as lay delegates to 
represent this church in the State Convention to be held at 
George Town in May next, Vizt. Col. Samuel Paynter and 
Robert Burton, and George Parker Jr. was also appointed 
in case either of the other delegates could not attend. 

On Motion Resolved that this meeting go into the election 
of a Vestry by Ballot, whereupon the following persons 
were elected Viz. George Parker Jr., John H. Burton, David 
J. Marshall, Albert Burton, John Marshall, Robert Burton, 
William Skellinger, John Rodney, Wm. Paynter, Nicholas 
R. Rodney and George Hickman. 

Samuel Paynter and William Marshall were also chosen. 
The Wardens, Daniel Rodney & George Parkef Sen". 

Easter Monday, March 28th, 1842. — At a meeting held this 
day in Saint Peter's Church Rev. John Reynolds took the 
chair, and John H. Burton was appointed Secretary. 

The Wardens and Vestry were continued with the addition 
of Dr. William Harris as Vestryman. 

Col. Samuel Paynter and John Rodney were elected Dele- 
gates to attend the Diocesan Convention to be held at Wil- 
mington in next May — and Robert Burton and John Marshall 
were elected as substitutes. 

April 7th, 1842.— At a meeting of the Trustees of St. Peter's 
church held this day, Present Daniel Rodney, Samuel 
Paynter, George Hickman, and Robert Burton. It was 
unanimously that the Treasurer of the Trustees of this church 
shall not pay out any monies without a written order signed 
by a majority of the Trustees. 

Easter Monday, April 17th, 1843. — At a meeting of the Con- 
gregation of Saint Peter's church held in said Church this 
day, Daniel Rodney Esq. was called to the Chair, and Dr. 
William Harris appointed Secretary. 



•\'ESTRY RECORDS. 281 

On motion it was resolved that, the meeting go into an 
election for a Warden to supply the place of Mr. George 
Parker Setf deed., by ballot. 

George Parker Jr. was duly elected in his place. Daniel 
Rodney was re-elected for the other Warden. 

It was resolved to reduce the number of Vestrymen from 
12 to 8. 

The follo-\ving persons were elected: Samuel Paynter, 
William Marshall, sen'', John H. Paynter, John Marshall, 
John H. Burton, William Paynter, Albert Burton, John 
Rodney. 

Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed 
delegates to the Diocesan Convention to be held in Smyrna 
in May next and George Parker and John Rodney were 
elected as substitutes. 

Saint Peter's church, Wednesday, January 3d, 1844. — At 
a meeting of the Vestry pursuant to a notice being given. 
Col. Samuel Paynter, Daniel Rodney, William Marshall, sen"'. 
John H. Burton, Albert Burton & John Rodney, also, the Sex- 
ton of the said church, Thomas Norman. The object of the 
meeting being stated, vizt. for the consideration of the calling 
of a regular minister, and fixing on some sum of money 
(certain) for his support &c $lSOf-^Q was promised (certain) 
for the services of the Rev. Walter E. Franklin, the present 
Missionary of the Parish, or for the services of the Rev. John 
Linn McKim, who is shortly expected to come into the 
County of Sussex and take charge of some Parishes in the 
same; for the selection of either we do hereby leave to the 
Direction of the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, D. D., or to 
the Bishop and the said Clergyman, as it may best seem for 
the good of the Church in our said County, trusting that 
it will be so arranged that peace and good will may again 
dwell amongst us. 

The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday the 24th after 
arranging to have a new fence on the Northwest side of the 
Church yard. 

Easter Monday, April 8th, 1844. — At a meeting of the con- 
gregation held in the church this day Daniel Rodney was 
called to the Chair and John Rodney chosen Secretary. 

John Rodney was elected a Trustee in the place of George 
Parker sen'' dec'^ and John H. Burton was elected Trustee in 
the place of Thomas Coleman. Col. Samuel Paynter was 
ejected Warden in the place of George Parker Jr. deed. 



282 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Wardens are considered as Vestrymen. 

Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed 
Lay Delegates to represent this parish in the Diocesan Con- 
vention to be held in this town of Lewes in May next. 

John Marshall and John H. Burton were appointed as 
substitutes. 

Easter Monday, 1845. 

"Respected Friends 

"This being the day observed by the Church for a hundred years 
past to make appointments and fill up vacancies &c. I think it is 
proper to inform you, that I am from age, and personal infirmities, 
unable to attend our meetings a Chairman, of the Trustees, and 
Wardens. I do therefore resign the aforesaid offices, the first of which 
I have held since 1795 when Mr. John Russel removed from Lewes. 

The Books, Papers, &c I have delivered over' to Mr. John Rodney, 
to lay before you. There will be several vacancies of Trustees, which 
you know will require ten days notice to the Congregation 
' ' I am yours most affectionately 

"Dan"- Rodney 

"To THE Warden, Vestry and Congregation of St. Peter's." 

By resolution the above was not accepted. 

Easter Monday, March 23d, 184S. — The following were con- 
tinued in office : Wardens Daniel Rodney and Col. Samuel 
Paynter. Vestry: Daniel Rodney, William Marshall sen''. 
John Marshall, Albert Burton, Col. Samuel Paynter, John P. 
Paynter, John H. Burton, John Rodney. 

William P. Orr was elected in the place of William Paynter 
dec"^ who departed this life March 19, 184S. 

May, 1845. — A raeeting was held in Saint Peter's Church 
according to notice. A request of the Rector the Rev. John 
A. Childs who has been duly received. 

Delegates to the Convention to be held in Wilmington 
the last Wednesday of this month, vizt Col. Samuel Paynter 
and Robert Burton. Substitutes John Rodney and John 
H. Burton. 

April 11th, 1846. — At a meeting of the Congregation of St. 
Peter's Church Lewes, held according to notice given as the 
Law directs, the Hon. Dan' Rodney was called to the Chair, 
and John H. Burton was appointed Secretary. On motion it 
was Resolved to fill the vacancies in the Board of Trustees 
occasioned by the nonacceptancQ of John Rodney, and the 
death of the Hon. Samuel Paynter. Whereupon they pro- 
ceeded to ballot for two Trustees, and on counting the ballot,s 



VESTRY RECORDS. 283 

William Marshall and William P. Orr were found to have 
an unanimous vote and declared to be elected. 

The Hon. Daniel Rodney haAdng left the chair it was on 
motion Resolved that the resignation of the Hon. Daniel 
Rodney be not accepted, and that he be continued in office. 

Easter Monday, April 13th, 1846. — Delegates for the Con- 
vention to be held at Milford in May, Robert Burton and 
John Rodney. 

John H. Burton and William P. Orr as substitutes. 

On motion. Resolved that liberty be given to inter in the 
Burial Ground of Saint Peter's Church, the remains of the 
late Nathan Kingsberry, without charge, on account of his 
former connection with this church as Rector. 

"Easter Monday, April, 1847. — Congregational meeting, 
the Rev. John A. Childs, Rector, in the chair. Alfred P. 
Robinson was appointed Secretary. Warders: Robert Bur- 
ton, William P. Orr. Vestry: William Marshall, John Mar- 
shall, Alfred P. Robinson, Joshua S. Burton, John Rodney. 

"Robert Burton and W™. P. Orr were appointed Delegates 
to represent this church in Convention to be held in George- 
town May next. 

"The following was offered and adopted: 

" 'Whereas it hath pleased Divine Providence to remove 
from our midst the Hon. Daniel Rodney, for many years and 
at his death Warden and Chairman of the Trustees, be it 
Resolved 

" 'That while expressing due resignation to the Divine 
Disposal of events, they are deeply sensible of the loss they 
have lately sustained. 

" 'Resolved That a copy of this preamble and resolution be 
presented to the family of the deceased.' 

"Alfred P. Robinson Secty." 

At a special meeting May 10, 1847, the following preamble 
and resolution was read and offered: 

"Whereas by an act passed Feb. 25, 1843 the words Rec- 
tors, Wardens and Vestrymen are said to be taken and applied 
to the word 'Trustees' in the former act of incorporation, 
and all the lawful powers in them vested, be it Resolved, 
That the powers of the said Trustees are hereby vested in 
the Wardens and Vestry of this church." 

On motion it was Resolved 

"The the Wardens and Vestry of this Church, be and 
are hereby elected Trustees of the same." 



284 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

November 6th, 1847. — Called Meeting. Whereas by a 
change of the powers heretofore vested in the Trustees, into 
Rector, Wardens, and Vestry, the office of Treasurer is now- 
vacant. William P. Orr was appointed Treasurer. 
I At the meeting Easter Monday, April 24th, 1848, a letter 
from the Rev. Aaron Freeman recommending the Rev. 
John Colhoun, was read. 

"At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry Nov. 3, 1848, 
steps were taken towards raising money for a new church. 
The present building is the result of that resolution. The 
Vestry & Congregation of St. Peter's Church met Saturday, 
May IS, 18 52, in accordance to previous public notice. 
Whereupon John Marshall was called to the Chair and W™. 
M. L. Richards appointed Secretary. 

"The object of the meeting being to take the sense of the 
Congregation in regard to the sale of the old church building 
which was about to be effected under a resolution of the 
Vestry at a previous meeting, was fully stated. A letter 
was then read from Mary King to the Vestry offering to pur- 
chase the building for $300.00; to be paid in sums of $100.00 
annual payments by means of public fairs for that purpose; 
or $400.00 if an additional year be allowed for the payment. 

"This proposition having been considered of no importance 
toward the attainment of the object designed, no action was 
accordingly taken upon it. 

"Afterwards a motion was made by W". M. Hickman that 
the meeting approve of the course of the Vestry and ^Com- 
mittee touching the matter of the church building, which 
was negatived. 

• "Additionally to the above motion, it was resolved that 
the church building be retained and be repaired by enlarg- 
ing and modernizing its construction in the manner deemed 
most advisable to the committee formerly appointed by the 
Vestry and that the congregation will approve the course of 
the committee in the matter. 

"Wm. M. L. Richards, Secty. 




,.fet 



CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHTHOUSE. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 285 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 



A LOST SETTLEMENT OF THE DELAWARE. 

Plockhoy's Colony, Which the British Wiped Out. Researches 
OP THE Pennsylvania Historical Society Throw Light on 
Plockhoy's Attempt — The Site of the Settlement Was Near 
Lewes, Del. 

(By Dr. George G. GrofE.) 

In making a report to the British Ministers in 1664, Sir Robert 
Carr, Governor of New York, wrote that he had "destroyed the quak- 
ing colony of Plockhoy to a nail." We know that the Dutch and 
English were then at war; that Carr visited the Delaware river to de- 
stroy the Dutch forts, and that it was on this river that he found 
and destroyed the colony of Plockhoy. But who was this Plockhoy? 
Who were the colonists? Where was the colony planted? For 200 
years there was absolutely no answer to those queries. Now, through 
the researches of members of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, 
and especially of the Honorable Samuel W. Pennypacker, the archives 
in Holland have been made to yield their hidden secrets, and we 
know the purpose and end of Plockhoy's colony, and of the man 
himself. 

In the various Government documents of the New Netherlands 
possession of the Delaware or South river is claimed from "primitive 
times," "ancient times," for "many years," the earliest date for the 
establishment of any Dutch trading station being given as 1598 by 
adventurers of the Dutch Greenland Company, who, it is claimed, 
built forts both on the North (Hudson) and on the South (Delaware) 
rivers. From this date, until finally driven out by the English, the 
Dutch seem to have maintained stations on the river, and since there 
often were married men, with their families, in the stations, they may 
be considered permanent settlements. 

In 1609 Henry Hudson visited the Delaware and in 1610 Lord 
Delaware. Cornelius Mey made his settlement in 1624; DeVries 
founded his first colony in 1630 and the second in 1631. New Albion, 
by Lord Clowden, was founded (if any settlements were ever made) 
in 1634. In 1635, and again in 1640, 1641 and 1642 the Connecticut 
people made determined efforts to found settlements on this river. 
In 1638 the Swedes made their first settlements. Then there is a 
mysterious Minesink settlement, which is claimed to have been made 
"shortly after 1609." 

Peter Cornelius Plockhoy. 

In 1662 Peter Cornelius Plockhoy, a Mennonite, of Zierik Zee, 
Holland, after unsuccessful applications to Cromwell, Lord Protector 
of England, 1658, and to the English Parliament in 1659, obtained 
from the States General of the United Netherlands and the Magis- 



286 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

trates of Amsterdam permission and aid to establish a colony, or 
community, in New Netherlands. On June 6, 1662, he entered into 
an agreement with the Burgomasters of Amsterdam to take twenty- 
five Mennonites to the South river. One hundred guilders were ad- 
vanced to each colonist, and the colony was to be free from taxes 
for twenty years. 

The settlement was made on the Hoorn Kill, near the town of 
Lewes, Del., on the same site on which had been planted the first 
unfortunate colony of DeVries, 1630, which was totally destroyed 
by the Indians. The place was called Swanendael, or "Valley of 
the Swans," by the first colony. In Plockhoy's prospectus the place 
is referred to as "Swanendael, where Osset had his throne." Osset 
being the Governor of DeVries colony when it was destroyed by. the 
Indians. The prospectus says : 

"New Netherlands 's the flower, the noblest of all lands. 
The birds obscure the sky, so numerous in their flight; 
The animals roam wild and flatten down the ground. 
The fish swarm in the waters and exclude the light, 
The oysters there, than which no better can be found. 
Are piled up heap upon heap, until islands they attain, 
And vegetation clothes the forest, mead and plain." 

"No Lordship or Servile Slavery." 
It was on the bank of the Delaware that the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence was promulgated. It was here that the first treaty was 
made with the Indians which was never broken. It was here that 
the first united protest against African slavery was made, while the 
English and Dutch were actively erfgaged in the slave trade. And 
here, only three years after a Massachusetts court decreed that the 
Quakers, Daniel and Provided Southwick, should be sold into slavery 
in the Barbadoes, Peter Cornelius Plockhoy established his colony in 
which "no lordship or servile slavery" should ever burden the people. 
It endured but two short years, and was then destroyed by Carr, as 
above stated. Plockhoy's colony was a community settlement, and 
his ideas, published in two letters to Cromwell, an address to the 
English Parliament and in the prospectus for his colony, show him 
to have been a man far in advance of his age, the forerunner of Robert 
Owen, Charles Fourier and Robert Bellers. Two fundamental ideas 
were at the basis of his community, namely, equality and association. 
He advocated unity in the Church. "In the Church differences of 
opinion can be permitted, but brotherhood and unity possess them 
all." He urged complete separation of Church and State, and that 
"the common life must again rest upon righteousness, upon love and 
upon brotherly union." 

Plan of the Community. 

The title page to Plockhoy's prospectus, taken from the Hon. 
Samuel W. Pennypacker's history of Germantown, reads: 

"Short and clear plan, serving as a mutual contract to lighten the 
labor and anxiety and trouble of all kinds of handicrafts men by the 
establishment of a community or colony on the South river, in New 
Netherlands, comprising agriculturists, seafaring men, all kinds of 
necessary tradespeople and masters of good arts and sciences, under 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 287 

the protection of their High Mightinesses, the Lords-State-General 
of the United Netherlands, and particularly under the favorable 
auspices of the Honorable Magistrates of the City of Amsterdam, de- 
pending upon the privileges of their Honors, as hereinafter set forth, 
granted for the purpose. Brought together by Peter Cornelius 
Plockhoy, of Zierik Zee, for himself and other lovers of New Nether- 
land. Amsterdam, 1662." This prospectus provided that members 
might dwell in their own homes and improve them as they saw fit: 
each one was to labor six hours each day in some useful occupation; 
profits were to be divided to each person over 20 years of age ; officers 
were to be elected by ballot each year,- but no officer could succeed 
himself. The only officers provided for were a director and two 
TDOokkeepers. The funds of the community were to be kept in a strong 
box, with three different locks, each officer having a key to a single 
lock, so that the funds could be handled only when all three were 
present, a plan now pursued by the Friends with church funds. Only 
those goods were common which were produced by the six hours of 
required labor. Children were all required to attend the common 
school half of each day, and to work at some trade the other half of 
the day; in this school no human formulas of religion, but only the 
Holy Scriptures, natural sciences and similar instruction enabling 
them to rightly use their reason, were to be taught. No foundation 
of sect or partisanship was to be laid in their hearts. (It would al- 
most seem that Girard drew his rules for his college from Plockhoy.) 
Those who could not conscientiously bear arms in self-defence were 
to pay a contribution, in case the same were needed for the defence 
of the community. In matters of religion there was to be full free- 
dom of conscience. No member of the community should be servant 
or servant maid, yet strangers could be employed at a wage. No 
lord or slave was to be tolerated in the community. Members were 
free to withdraw at any time and receive their share of the profits. 
Members were permitted to marry in the community or out of it, as 
they saw fit. 

The Tragic Ending. 

The colony was planted at Swanendael. Two years later it was 
totally destroyed. There is absolutely no record of what became of 
the colonists, except the founder and his wife. Of them Judge Penny- 
packer says: "In the near 1694 there came an old blind man and his 
wife to Germantown. His miserable condition awakened the tender 
sympathies of the Mennonites there. They gave him the citizenship 
free of charge. They set apart for him at the end street of the village, 
ty Peter Klever's corner, a lot twelve rods long and one rod wide, 
whereon to build a little house and to make a garden, which should 
be his, so long as he and his wife should live. In front of it they 
planted a tree. Jan Daeden and William Rittenhouse were appointed 
to take up a 'free will offering,' and to have the little house built. 
This is all we know, but it is surely a satisfaction to see this ray of 
sunshine thrown upon the brow of the hapless old man as he neared 
his grave. After thirty years of untraced wanderings upon these 
wild shores, friends had come across the sea to give a home at last to 
one whose whole life had been devoted to the welfare of others. It 
was Peter Cornelius Plockhoy. What recognition may hereafter be 



288 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

awarded his career cannot be foretold. His efforts resulted in what 
the world called failure, and for 200 years he has slept in the greatest 
obscurity. Yet when we compare him with his contemporaries, with 
the courtiers, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir William Berkeley, with 
Cotton Mather, inciting the magistrates to hang old women for imagi- 
nary crimes, and see him wrestling with Cromwell, not for his own 
gain, but for the help of the downtrodden and the poor, teaching the 
separation of the Church and the state, protesting against the injuring 
the minds of children by dogma, and with so clear a sense of justice 
that even the vicious, when driven from the community, were to re- 
ceive their share of the possessions, we cannot help but recognize 
his merit and intelligence, and feel for him that symj)athy that makes- 
us all akin. When we find him, first of all the colonizers of America, 
so long ago as 1662, announcing the broad principle that 'no lordship 
or servile slavery shall burden our company,' he seems to grow into 
heroic proportions. Whatever else may happen, certain it is that 
the events of the life of one whose work marks the very beginning of 
the literature and history of the ten millions of people who now live 
in the States along the Zuid river must always be of keen interest to 
them and to their descendants." 
Lewisburg, Pa. 

THE BOMBARDMENT OF LEWES BY THE BRITISH 

April 6 and 7, 1813. 

March 13th, 1813, the Bay was blockaded by three frigates 
of seventy-four guns each and smaller vessels. The frigates 
Poitiers, Belvidere, had been sent from Norfolk. 

One of the papers speaking of arrival of the fleet says: — 

"Our. inhabitants are in a great state of alarm. On Saturday a 
British seventy-four came into the Delaware, and is now about ten 
miles within the Capes. On Monday a frigate anchored alongside.. 
Last night, at twelve o'clock, two of the Cape May Pilot-boats were 
driven in Maurice River and captured by the enemy." 

The militia was assembled on the coast. 
In a letter to a friend in Baltimore dated March 20th, 
General Green says: — 

"We have a British fleet at the Capes of the Delaware. They have 
burned several vessels and taken others. We have had an engage- 
ment with them from the shore. Our ammunition gave out, or we 
would have prevented from burning the Charleston packet. They 
had four large boats full of men, and came within two hundred yards 
of the shore. I am now on my way to Lewistown, where there are 
one thousand men under arms. We have men sufficient to prevent 
them from landing, but we are in want of ammunition, which we 
shall be supplied with in a few days." 

Shortly after the arrival of the British fleet, its commander, 
Commodore J. Beresford, sent the following letter "to the 
first magistrate of Lewistown." 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 289 

"Sir: — As soon as you receive this, I must request you will send 
twenty live bullocks, with a proportionate quantity of Vegetables and 
hay, to the Poitiers, for the use of his Brittanic Majesty's Squadron, 
now at this anchorage, which shall be immediately paid for at the 
Philadelphia prices. 

"If you refuse to comply with this request, I shall be under the 
necessity of destroying your town." 

If the first magistrate of Lewes had sent the supplies, it 
would have cost him his life. It, the letter, was sent to Gov- 
ernor Haslet at Dover. He immediately left Dover and 
came to Lewes. In a letter to the British Commodore dated 
March 23d in a reply to the letter sent to the first magistrate, 
Governor Haslet says: — 

"As Governor of the State of Delaware, and as commander of its 
military force, I improve the earliest time afforded me, since my 
arrival at this place, of acknowledging the receipt of your letter to 
the chief magistrate of Lewes. 

"The respect which generous and magnanimous nations, even when 
-they are enemies, take pride in cherishing towards each other, enjoins 
it upon me as a duty I owe the State over which I have the honor at 
this time to preside, to the government of which this State is a mem- 
ber, and to the civilized world, to enquire of you whether upon further 
and more mature reflection, you continue resolved to attempt the 
destruction of this town." 

Beresford replied the same day as follows: — 

"In reply to your letter received today, by a flag of truce, in an- 
swer to mine of the 16th inst., I have to observe, that the demandfl 
have made upon Lewistown is, in my opinion, neither ungenerous nor 
■wanting in that magnimity which one nation ought to observe with 
another with which it is at war. It is in my power to destroy your 
town, and the request I have made upon it, as the price of its security, 
is neither distressing nor unusual. I must therefore persist, and 
whatever sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of Lewes must be 
attributed to yourselves by not complying with a request so easily 
acquiesced in." 

Not until April 7th did Beresford make the attack. One 
of the newspapers of that day says: — 

"Commodore Beresford would seem to have suddenly altered his 
mind with respect to burning down Lewistown, to make a fire to 
roast the Delaware oxen by. It would be too offensive to suppose a 
British officer would threaten without meaning to make good his 
word. But certain it is that the Commodore has fallen into a dilemma, 
which 'his friends' at the coffee house have not explained. Delaware 
teef is highly seasoned, and if served up with forced meat balls, might 
not prove as palatable to this nautical hero as the beef of old Eng- 
land." 



290 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

At last the attack was made. Colonel Davis' despatch to 
the Governor says: — 

"This evening the Belvidere and two small vessels came close into 
Lewes and commenced an attack by firing several thirty-two pound 
shot into the town, which have been picked up; after which a flag was 
sent, to which the following reply was returned : — 

" ' Sir : — I reply to the renewal of your demand, with the addition for 
"a supply of water," I have to inform you, that neither can be com- 
plied with. This, too, you must be sensible of; therefore I must 
insist the attack on the inhabitants of this town is both wanton and 
cruel. I have the honor to be your most obedient servant 

"'S. B. Davis 
" 'Colonel Commandant.'" 

One Captain R. Byron seemed deputed by Beresford to 
continue the correspondence for supplies. He says: 

" No dishonor can be attached in complying with the demand of 
Sir John Beresford to Lewes in consideration of his superior force. 
I must, therefore, consider your refusal to supply the squadron with 
water, and the cattle that the neighborhood affords, most cruel, upon 
your part, to its inhabitants. I grieve for the distress of the women, 
and children are reduced to by your conduct, and earnestly desire 
they may be instantly removed." 

Colonel Davis answered that he had already taken care 
of the ladies. 

The attack was made immediately, "and continueii till 
near ten o'clock. The fire from our battery silenced one of 
their most dangerous gunboats, against which I directed 
the fire from an eighteen-pounder, for which I request you 
(the Governor) will immediately send me a supply of shot 
and powder, as it is uncertain how long the bombardment 
will continue. They have not succeeded with their bombs 
in reaching the town, and the damages from their thirty- 
two-pounders and canister cannot be ascertained until 
daylight." 

A letter sent from Dover, April 7th, to the Baltimore 
Federal Gazette, says: 

"When the bombardment began, two eighteen-pounders were 
serviceable, but without ball; two nine-pounders, ball too large; 
there were but fifteen casks of powder. 

"One of the eighteen-pounders mounted on the 6th played on a 
sloop and silenced its guns. 

"Our men behaved well; the women and children left the garrison; 
the Belvidere came within two miles of the town, too close for her 
shot to fall in it; the smaller vessels sent balls flying over the town. 

"On the fifth of April there were 286 men, 418 muskets complete; 
8000 cartridges; 25 bags of grape-shot; 15 kegs of powder; 2270 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 291 

flints; 41 twelve-pound balls; 88 nine-pound ball; 167 six-pound ball; 
216 four-pound ball; 434 kegs of lead; 2 eighteen-pounders, one 
mounted; 2 nine-pounders, badly mounted; 4 six-pounders, badly 
mounted; 3 four-pounders, mounted." 

The Baltimore Patriot, April 7th, read: ' 

"This morning a very steady smoke was seen in the direction of 
Lewistown, supposed to be occasioned by throwing rockets into that 
place. 

"The enemy fired eight hundred cannon balls on shore, which were 
picked up by the brave people of Lewes, and 'returned to the enemy 
with interest.' 

"A spectator describes the scene as follows: 'He was just above 
the town and have a clear view. The British ships were ranged in line 
of battle ; the fire ceased about two o'clock, when he visited the 
earth-works. The weather was threatening, wind easterly. Captain 
Byron drew off his squadron at four o'clock, a few miles, where he re- 
mained until sailing for the Capes.' 

"About five-hundred shots were fired. A collection was made of 
one hundred and fifty of small sizes and a few bombs. Houses were 
injured, chimneys cut almost in two, the comer-posts, plates, and 
studs cut oil in several houses. The foremast of a schooner was cut 
away, and another received a shot in her hull. 

"Of two particular rockets thrown, one fell on a lot, another in a 
marsh. 

"A fire was directed at the breastwork, where more than thirty 
men were stationed. Shot struck the battery and broke the pine logs. 
Two shots entered by the guns. 

"A further account mentions that one bombshell fell in the town, 
likewise the shots of the Belvidere, and fell some distance beyond. 
The loss by destruction of property was estimated to be $2000x%!t. 

"On the tenth of April a letter reached Philadelphia from Dover, 
dated the 8th inst., written at quarter past 8 o'clock, saying: 'Lewes 
is yet safe, Mr. White left there at eleven o'clock yesterday, and 
says the enemy cannot, in his opinion, destroy the place unless they 
land, which he thinks they would probably do in the course of the day. 
The barges, to the number of five, were full of men. The house of 
Peter Hall (a tavern on the bank) was demolished, and several others 
damaged; the bombs and rockets fell short of the town.' " 

The same paper concludes: 

"The British withdrew from Lewistown on the eighth, after bom- 
barding and cannonading it incessantly for twenty- two hours, without 
doing any material injury to the place, most of their shot and shell 
falling short of their object." 

Another paper says: 

"The militia fired but few shots, as they had only one eighteen- 
and one nineteen-pounder and but few shots for them, and of which 
they endeavored to raake the best possible use, and have reason to 
suppose they gave one of the sloops the contents of the eighteen- 
pounder, as she was obliged to haul out of the line soon after it was seen 
to strike her. 



292 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"We are assured the inhabitants of Lewis and Pilot-towns, the 
volunteers and militia under the command of Colonel Samuel Davis, 
behaved in a cool and determined manner. The pilots who were sta- 
tioned in the fojrt deserve the highest praise, and the whole was so 
judiciously stationed by the commanding officers that had the British 
landed they would have been able to give a good account of them- 
selves. 

"Powder from Dupont's Mills in Wilmington was rapidly sent 
forward to Lewes, and ball was hurried there, too. 

' ' The general government had furnished Delaware one hundred and 
fifty stands of arms, part of its war quota; these were distributed 
among the volunteers at Lewes. The British made an attempt to 
land on the 8th; a number of small vessels with armed men approached 
the shore, the militia and volunteers hastening to the beach to re- 
ceive them. 

"The British were called back by a signal from their squadron. 
Col. Davis resorted to a ruse. He marched the militia and volunteers 
along the water front up to where, unseen by the enemy, they could 
enter a back street of the town, countermarch to the water front and 
along it, go and return; thus deceiving the British into believing 
that an advancing army was flooding Lewes with troops." 

The old inhabitants say that many of the marchers carried 
cornstalks to represent guns. 

"On the 8th, the fleet was at its anchorage at the capes, foiled 
and dispirited, without bullocks, vegetables, hay, or so much as a 
cup of cold water. 

"April 28 the Belvidere put to sea, sailing for the Chesapeake with 
a few prisoners." 

William Marshall, pilot, and lieutenant-commander during 
the bombardment, left a diary in which is recorded the fol- 
lowing persons who were in the battery: 

John Gauns, Second Lieutenant, Commander; Job Cor- 
nell, St., Job Cornell, Jr., John Rowland, Richard Poynter, 
Samuel Rowland, Arthur Pointer, Charles Baker, William 
Edwards, Thomas Norman, John Saunders, Moses Nichols, 
Jacob Art, P. DaA'is, Samuel Thompson, Simon Edwards, 
George Orton, Joseph Ort, Jerry Shillenger, John Clampitt, 
Samuel West, William Jeffries, J. W. Batson, William John- 
son, J. W. Norwood, Thomas Virden, William Masters, James 
Nicholson, B. Atkins, David Hall, Nathaniel Neuman, John 
Davis, Simon Edwards, Jr., John Norman, William Lewis, 
Cook Clampitt, Gilbert McCracken, William West, William 
Art, Privates. 

There were 500 men encamped at Block House Pond. 

One ball from the British ships made a hole in the door 
of Caleb Rodney's store. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 293 

Gilbert McCracken, whose name appears in the Hst of 
soldiers, had also served in the Revolutionary army. Being 
taken prisoner by the British, he was carried to New York 
and imprisoned in the "Jersey," prison ship. At that time 
he was only twelve years of age. 

The people were in a great state of excitement when the 
firing commenced and many wished to flee, some did so. 
Thomas Rowland said to his wife: "Put your trust in God; 
bury the tool-chest in the garden, and set your face for 
Copes'." Mr. Cope lived seven miles from Lewes. 

A sloop called "Black Duck," loaded with cotton, was 
captured by the British just before the fight, but was re- 
captured by the Americans. 

While Henry McCracken was standing near Colonel Davis 
a musket ball grazed the latter. Turning to McCracken he 
said, "Henry, an inch more and that ball would have fixed 
me." 

Niles' Register of April 24th, says: 

"The people of Lewistown are making themselves quite merry for 
the late bombardment of that place. They enumerate their killed 
and wounded as follows: one chicken killed, one pig wounded — leg 
broken. It was a ridiculous affair on the part of the enemy. We 
have nothing new from this quarter except that Sir John Beresford 
has captured five oyster-boats, and, after a severe engagement, caused 
these whole cargoes to be devoured." 

After the battle the British made another attempt to ob- 
tain water. They dropped down the river seven miles and 
sent men in boats with casks for water, and halters for bul- 
locks. Colonel Davis had suspected such a move and had 
sent Major George H. Hunter with one hundred and fifty 
men, to prevent the landing of the British. Major Hunter 
drove the enemy back to their ships, minus water and bul- 
locks. 

Copies of Old Letters Found in Lewes. 

Fort Cumberland Dec. 9, 1756. 

"Sir: — I hear you have been at Annapolis lately and would have 
been glad to hear ye news, — ■ 

"We have erected a sort of Ravelin on the north side the fort 
one face fronting the Hill, the other, that of the Valley on the East 
Side Wills Creek. The Rampart is brought almost to a Level with 
the Hill, is about 20 foot thick. The parapet six foot high and of 
the same thickness ; In the angle of the Ravelin I have built a maga- 
zine proof against small shells, and has out a way under ground to 
the Water of Wills Creek. Gov. Denwiddie has given orders to 
Continue the work. 



294 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"I expect news from the Ohio Daily — a small Detach™' has been 
out about twenty days and I am sorry have had very severe weather 
— I am 

"Sir Your most ob' hub' Serv*, 

"Adam Stephen. 

"P. S. I wish you and Mrs. Dagworthy the Compliments of the 
Approaching Season, We have had some diversion on the Ice al- 
ready." 

"Mr. Nunez pay unto Jacob KoUock, John Rodney and John Wilt- 
bank of Sussex County in Delaware Esq'' whatever Monies you as 
Administrator of a certain Henrietta Sims late of the said County 
deceased, may have recovered or shall recover as belonging to the 
said Henrietta at her death and since to me as Governor of the Three 
lower Counties she having died without any relations or known 
kindred, which Monies I expect when paid by you to those gentle- 
men they will apply to the use of Christ Church in the Town of Lewis 
and the receipt of them or any two of them shall be your discharge 
for the same from yo"^ 

' ' I am Sir Your very hble servant 

"John Penn 
"New Castle ye 24th March 1770. 
"To Mr. Daniel Nunez 
"of Lewis Town." 

"Dr. Franklin presents his Thanks to Mr. Hill for the opportunity 
given him of perusing this Manuscript which has afforded him much 
pleasure by refreshing his Memory of things and Places that he had 
formerly seen. Dr. F. would be glad to have also a sight of the 
Drawings particularly that of the Marble Mill at Bakewell, having 
lost one he made himself when there, It is to be wished that all our 
young Men who travel had the same spirit of observation and Diligence 
in noting down what might be useful to their Country. 

"Jan. 18, '87." 

"Philadelphia, Oct. 16, 1780. 
'My Dear General. 

"I received your favour of the 29th of Septr. last, and have taken 
the liberty of publishing to the World, tho' not as coming from you, 
the perfidy, villainy & meaness of the Wreck Arnold — This man 
appears to me to be Phenomenon of Human Depravity, and were 
I certain you would not conceive it arrogance in me, I should sup- 
pose that Omnipotence itself could not form so complicated yet so 
complete a Character of every thing that is base and injurious — 

"Inclosed I send you a number of late News Papers, from these 
you will learn how great & how important a Change has taken place, 
in our legislature. Will you believe me? Our honest friend Delaney 
is a Member — Sam Penrose Mr. R. Morris Christian Sam, (would we 
had more christians) Geo. Gray, Geo. Campbell, &c. &c. in the same 
stile — however, by these papers & the inclosed Lists you will see the 
Change that has been affected, & I thank Gk)d, I have been instru- 
mental, in some small degree, in this business, having like a Freeman 
given my vote for men who pleased me. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 295 

"Pray what think you of the Principle established in the Report 
of the Committee of the late House, respecting their making up on 
Depreciation? However, as the Scale of Depreciation is the chief 
thing, whenever that is agreed on by the New Houss we shall trans- 
mitt you the same for your Observations thereon and approbation. 

"Your family Dr General are all well, some of your friends are 
not, among the number I am one; I have been persecuted with a 
villianous fever which at length left me, but in a feeble and weak 
State indeed — It has proved fatal to many, 20 having been buried 
of a day for months past — 

"I have nothing new to communicate therefore shall bid you adieu. 

"Subscribing myself your sincere friend & Servant 

"F. Johnson" 

Correspondence of William Hill Wells, Esq., 
Dagsborough, Del. 

Philada; 9 March, 1794. 

My dear Son : — Tho' I ha^'e nothing worth Postage to communicate, 
except the pretty general Welfare of the Family, yet I thought a Line 
might remove any Anxiety that might arise from our Silence, for tho' 
it is near 9 & the Post goes off to morrow neither of thy scribbling 
Sisters have prepar'd a Letter — thy last ^ Post proved very pleasing, 
and I hope thy new Arrangement of Businefs will be ultimately more 
to thy Advantage, for great Undertakings require great Stock; I 
wish thou had not quite so much locked up in Leather but I suppose 
it was the best that could be done — If you get the Papers regularly 
you will perceive that we are on the Brink of a War — the late out- 
rageous Proceeding of the British Cabinet in directing the Seizure of 
all Vefsels going to a French Port (whether beseiged or not has exas- 
perated all Clafses of Citizens, & altho' we must certainly suffer more 
by War than even by the Restrictions aimed against us by England, 
yet the Spirit of the People & the Idea of the Honor of a Nation will 
precipitate us into a War unlets a Peace in Europe should speedily 
take Place — Congrefs have resolved on the Measure of providing 
Ships of War, and to have all the great Sea Port Towns immediately 
fortified, — perhaps the Mornings Paper by the Post will furnish the 
Acct. of the Evacuation of Toulon which took place on the 18 Deer. 
& all the french Fleet bumd but 2 Frigates — the Accot came from 
Carthagena to N York the Harbour was a noble one but the Town 
could not be retained — the surrounding high Ground commanding 
it, they embarked in such haste that it is said numbers of the Citizens 
who wished to fly rushed into the water after the Boats & were drownd 
the Harbour is somewhat thus [map] 

Our Friend Charlotte is in Town & likely to have occasion to stay 
here a few Months — I fear a War will make it difficult to find money 
for the great Canal her Husband is engaged in tho' it may furnish a 
number of idle hands — our dear Love to Bettsy & the Tiney ones 
and thyself B W 

Philad July 17 1794 
My dear Son: — Having wrote by last Post, I should not write 
again so soon, but as the present Conveyanc will cost nothing, a Letter 
worth nothing ought not to be so much complained of— however I 



296 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

am sure some Value will be given to it, for bringing only 4 Days 
later Accot. of our being well & I hope I may add that Hannah walks 
stronger every Day — This Afternoon Benny, Polly & Rachel go off 
for the Sea Shore if Rain does not prevent of which there is some 
Probability — we have had a more rainy Season spring & Summer 
than I ever remember — though my Books will not hand down so 
true a History of it as I fear thine will — at least it will be a negative 
History of Work not done in the Swamp; — what a Pity it is that 
when the Shingle Businefs stands still, the Saw Mills cannot be turned 
to Accot. — I formerly used to please myself with the Thought that 
when there was too much Water in the Swamp the Mills wod dance 
up & down more merrily — but this I am disappointed in. 

Capt. Derrickson has brought up a Cargo of young, Blacks — B Morris 
has one Anth' Morris 2 — G Wells I believe one, & I am just now 
going to look at a 7 year old Boy — perhaps to prove a Plague they 
are all to be bound to 28, but we are going to bring on in our Su- 
preme Court the important Question, "whether any Man can con- 
st it ittionally be held to Service either for Life or beyond 21 " — Lewis, 
Rawle Ingersol & Bradford, have all undertaken to plead for general 
Freedom, & a Case is prepared — the 2 former are standing Coun- 
sellors of the Abolition Society & wod take no Fee — the other Gen- 
tlemen hesitated & ha\"e it ad referendum whether they will not 
return the SO Dollars each which we we have given them — whether 
we succeed or not. I shall not hold my Boy (if I get him) above 21 — 
Love to Bettsey & the young ones. 

Thy affect Father R W 

Wilmington July 27th 95. 

Sir: — In consequence of the communications made from j'our 
county, respecting arrangements for the election of Governor; a number 
of Gentlemen met at this place on Saturday last. They fully agree 
with you in sentiment, that union is most important, & more likely 
to be obtained by a conference & mutual communication of senti- 
ments, than in any other way. On the part of this county we have 
therefore appointed Mr. Grantham, Mr. Bayard & Mr. Frazer, to 
meet the commifsioners from Kent & Sufsex at Dover at the time 
mentioned in your letters. I sincerely hope we may get such a chief 
magistrate, as will do honor to the State; & who by patriotic & con- 
ciliatory measures, maj' unite us all in sentiment & exertions for 
the interest & happinefs of our common country — rescue us from 
those factions which prevail, & which are so enemical to the peace 
order & dignity of government. 

I am with much respect Your obedt Hbble Servt 

Gunn'g Bedford Jnr 
WiUm Hill Wells Esqr 

The Grove, December 24th, 1795. 
Dear Sir: — I hope before now you have received a letter from me 
refpecting some of your bufinfs in the Law — I have not as yet taken 
any Steps in your suit against Leven Miller as it waill be proper to 
Confult you refpecting the plase you wan to have prosefs if sued, 
should you Conclude to Commence profeedings in Sufsex I have no 
doubt but you wanto be succefsful in the collection of your debt 



" MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 297 

there — but should you Conclude to profeed against him in Maryland 
it would be best I think to remove the Judgment as it is and ifsue 
Si Fa there againft him which must be done when evere it is moved, 
tho' I am sure the money Can be got without this mode of prof ced- 
ing — I suppose you must have had all the news from the City, the 
difagreement of senate to the appointment of the Chief Justice of the 
United States is Confidered a damn'd good thing The involved sit- 
uation of this man and the disreputable means which he was prac- 
tiseing to extricate himfelf from embarrafsment in my Judgment ware 
reasons suffecant to warrant the measure of the Senate, but added 
to this thay I am told had other strong ones. 

I inclose you here a speach of the Kings the attack made on 
him as Stated there is gainsaid in other papers and that he only had 
a Stone discharged against him. 

The introduction of the governor to the general afsembly of this 
State for is qualification is to be vastly grand, I am sorry to tell 
you that he is now confined to his bed with the Gout. 

You have underftood I make now doubt the situation you are in 
withregart to SherrifE — I am told that the two next highest on the 
return in Sufsex and Kent are to be appointed — I hope it will be no 
harm to say thank God for our Dear Moleston in Kent he is a fine 
fellow indeed. 

Mrs Botson is yet in the City she desiered me when ever I wrote 
you to make her affectionate regard to yourself & Mrs. Wells 

Davd Nixon has lately pranced off to the other World, and the 
Porson is in good Sperits of being Clark to the House of Represen- 
tatives. Will you Spend a Night with me on your way to the Leges- 
lature. it will give me much pleasure for you always to Consider the 
Grove as a second Home be pleased to make my sincere Refpects 
to Mrs Wells, your Dear little Son & Daughter 

God bless you adieu Jno W. Batson 

P. S. — finding the Kings speach in the papers I have omided 
sending it. J W B. 

The Grove, Sept. 19th, 1796 
Dear Sir: — Your interesting letter of the 20th Ulto never made 
its appearance before last Evening owing to my unfortunate detention 
in Philadelp. with a Shocking illness. The late Tour you and Mrs. 
Wells have taken through the moft healthy parts of Maryland, Vir- 
ginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, was a Circumftance of some 
little supprise to me" it being altogether a novel excurfion for any 
of our Gentlemen. I hope the journey will Tend to the reeftablish- 
ment of Mrs. Wells and Mifs Rachel's health and Totally baffle any 
defign the Dagsborough atmosphere might have had against yours. 
I am sure you have made your observation on the Federal City. I 
wish much to have some Converfation with you on that Subject: 
it was my intention some ago, to have Visited it this Summer but 
the destruction of my health from about the ISth of august to the 
present period, give a stab to that and every other pleasure. "The 
extreem lafsetude in which the deseas have left me I fear will make 
this letter too dull for my Friend ' ' I remember that one of King 
Charles's Golden Rules, was to repeat no grievances, and amongst 



298 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

people that pity a greatdeal I am Cautious of doing it — I know the 
magnanimity of your mind on Such Occafions Seours to the proper 
Standard "a Bumper to my recovering health of your Salubrious 
Wine will do me the greatest honor and you the most good. I have 
Since Yestorday got to drinking same good wine but am obliged to 
dilute it [in consequence of my liver being much affected by the 
Malignant bilious fence which I have been Just Confined with in the 
City]. — I will now make a glass as potent as I dare and drink it to your 
health, and your late Traveling Party, and Succefs to the Federal 
Ticket, if the situation of my health will admit of it I will unques- 
tionably be with at your EUection ! mourn with me at the departuxe 
of Gods best [earthly] likenefs, from our Government — I am much 
flattered with the present prospect of our Kent EUection. Heaven 
grant You Succefs in Sufsex and all will be right. I am much Obliged 
to you and Mrs. Wells for your interestednefs for Mrs. Batson & 
little Ann's Health they are now in the City but was tolerably well 
when I left them about three days ago. We shall undoubtedly expect 
you & Mrs. Wells &c in the winter — Honour me in making my most 
profound refpects to Mrs. Wells and believe me your very Sincere 
friend & most aff. St. Jno W. Batson. 

D Sir: — I anticipated the pleasure of Seing you before this time 
. but my indisposition has been such Since you came home that I have 
not been out of my house till within two days paft. I am now upon the 
Recovery and hope in a few day to git out. the Election businefs I am 
apt to think as it Regards myself has been turning against me fom 
what on account of my Confinement and Robinsons activity — -but if 
my friends dont forsake me I hope to bring that up. I think I am 
asking the voice of the public in a more proper manner than my 
aponant is as I was put in the General Tickett agreeable to the form 
of making ticket in our party — if I had not have been put in the 
Tickett I should not have thought myself so much intituled to the 
Interest of the party neither should I have offered myself in the 
manner that Robinson has but should have felt myself bound to push 
the Tickett (as I had declared before a Tickett was formed) but a free 
people will think for themselves and act for themselves and I hope 
they will in this instance — ^but as a friend to party I shall always feal 
my self bound to stand to what my party shall do. from what I have 
had the pleasure of hearing you Say on the Subject I hope I have your 
Interest and good wishes &c — if so I am not afraid of my Election. 

I am with great Esteeme your friend, &c Kendle Batson 

Geo: Town Septr 24th 1796. 

Wm. H. Wells Esqr. 

Philada. 25, Jany. 1798. 

Dear Sir: — You will excuse the liberty I take of begging you to 
consider how far it will be proper for the Legislature to interfere 
in fixing the allowance which each County shall pay to the Atty 
General. I presume you know the fact to be, that the Levy Court 
of N Castle County refused to make the Atty any compensation for 
his services. The consequence is that Kent & Sufsex support a State 
officer, and NC is equally benefitted by his services without paying 
any thing ior them. A Strong reason why the salary should be fixed, 
is that the Atty might always be placed beyond influence. At present 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 299 

the Levy Court is liable to indictmt. & if the Atty does his duty he 
loses the emoluments of his office. 

There is no foreign intelligence of late date & no dispatches have 
yet been reed by our Governmt. The House of Reps, is still occupied 
in debates on the foreign intercourse Bill. We have used each other 
vcith very little ceremony. We have been charged as Monarchists 
and it has been returned with the charge of Anarchifts. the question 
which will follow the debates is the more important as it will go far 
in deciding the strength of the Parties. It is calculated that we have 
a small majority, but accident may occasion the lofs of the question. 

I am with great regard my dear Wells, Your Obt Sert 

James A. Bayard 

Geo: Town August 27th 1798. 

Dear Sir: — Yours of the 17th instant came to hand Some days ago 
and I have to aske your pardon for not answering it before this time 
which neglect was owing to my receiveing your Letter just as I was 
leaving home and being gone three days. I forgot to answer yours 
as I intended upon my return. You will receive herewith 30 Stamps 
of 4 Cents each. I would have sent you a quire But have not got 
them by me but I expect Some down in a few days and if you want I 
wiU send some down. I have also inclosed you the Law Respecting 
Stamped paper &c, which you will please to Return after you have 
perused it &c. I expect to see you at Geo: Town Tomorrow as that 
is a day appointed by our friends to have Some Consultation Re- 
specting our Election &c. 

I will forward you a Copy of my account with you in a few days. 

I am with esteeme your Sinseare and very devoted friend 

Kendle Batson 

W. H. Wells Esq 

The Grove Sept 23rd 98 

Dear Sir: — From the contrariety of opinions circulated here 
relative To the Politics of Sufsex, I have felt anxious to have yours. 
The federal party in Kent is pretty well united; and I think we have 
reafon to calculate on a Majority of one hundred and SO at least for 
Governor, and reprefentative; this with the ordinary superiority of 
Sufsex, I trust will counteract the democratical fetes of N. Caftle 
County, which by the bye I prefume will meet with a rub from the 
rage of the fever in Wilmington. Tho it is a calamity I very much 
lament, and most ardently wish a speedy period to its ravages. 

I must Confefs my supprise in the Changes that has taken place 
with the Officers in Sufsex, that of the Prothonotary is an extra- 
ordinary Case indeed ; and I doubt whether there is more than one 
more character, in the federal Party, cloathed with the same power, 
refulting from the People, as the Senate, that would at this time have 
braved the same act. all intimacy between the former Officer and 
my self, appears to have subfided: Yet I am not so much bereft of 
the feeUngs of Propriety as it regards the Public, and the individual, 
as to have no senfibilities on the Occafion. 

Mrs. Batson unites with me in Sincere efteefn for you, and Mrs. Wells, 
believe me your devoted friend and Hub Sert 

L W. Batson 
William Hill Wells Esquire 



300 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

The Grove Febry 24th 1799. 

Dear Sir: — As the Conclufion of this Sefsion of Congrefs may take 
place, before the Refignation of Mr. Bassett as Commifsioner of the 
Fore may be Known in its proper department of Government; I have 
thought it not improper to resume the Subject at this time ; and Ob- 
serve to you that such is the Supposition here. The Confidence I feel 
in your poUtical management, and favourable wishes for my happiness. 
Saves here the Communication of any further ideas on the Subject. 

It is a pleasing circumftance to your friends in Delaware, to find 
the Federalists so Universally rejoiceing in your Ellection to the 
Senate of the "United States. I have often blefs'd my Stars that not 

one d n democrat voted for you. As I mean this for your own 

Eyes alone You can make such mention of me to Mefsrs L. & B. as 
you may deem proper. 

I am your much devoted friend & Sincere Humb Sert 

John W. Batson 

George Town. 

Dear Sir: — I rec'd your last ^mail, & as an apology for not writing 
you on the return of the Mail I would observe that I was engaged with 
the Board of Property which was sitting at that time. 

I am informed that the Court of Apl will sit at Dover on the 2nd 
Tuesday in August. 

If you have found the Whip which I left at your house please to 
send it by the Stage. If not be so kind as to look about the Garden 
or yard. It is a loaded whip Silver mounted & battered on the head. 
It belongs to Mr Batson & may probably have some mark on the head. 

I send by Stage the Plate of Buonaparte, Koskiusko &c. 

I am Dr Sir sincerely yours &c J. M. Broom 

Geo: Town 17. July '99. 

Dear Sir: — I understand that Broad Creek & Lewis Town are 
about to follow the worthy example of Dagsborough in establishing 
a public library. Geo: Town too I am sure will make the attempt. 
But I fear while these intended institutions are so seperated, and 
remain on the extremities of the County, neither can florish or be 
of that public benefit, for which they may be designed. But if they 
with the Dagsborough Library could be united and placed at Geo : 
Town, the most central spot, and where people from all quarters of 
the County resort at least once in two weeks, I should imagine we 
could not fail to have a good library. For it is highly probable that 
people from all parts of the County would subscribe, seeing it so easy 
of accefs. One of the leading gentlemen of the library at Broad Creek 
was yesterday talking with me on the subject, and observed he thought 
there would be no difficulty in supprefsing theirs, provided the one 
at Dags, could be moved to Geo : Town. 

At the instance of that gentleman I have taken the liberty to 
addrefs you on the subject and to ask if you think it probable the 
Dagsborough library could be moved to Geo : Town in case the Gentle- 
men of Broad Creek, Lewis and this place will give up their design 
and join in promoting the one institution. 

I remain, dear sir, with much respect your mo. obt hble Servt 

Outerbridge Horsey 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 301 

Geo: Town 29. July '99. 
Monday. 

Dear Sir: — Tuesday the 20th of Aug. has been mentioned as 
the time for our meeting to form the County ticket, but as yet no 
time is absolutely fixed upon. You will please to pardon me for not 
answering yours sooner as I have been waiting for the time to be 
ascertained. 

Our next election is certainly a very important one. I dread the 
effects of it. The obstinacy wth which the two candidates seem to 
contend, and the great zeal, to frequently accompanied with slander, 
displayed by the friends of each, I fear, will tend to encrease that 
discord wch unhappily has too long subsisted between the eastern 
and western friends, and which there is too much reason to apprehend, 
without great care and cercumspection will one day or other be fatal 
to our federal majority. But while we are apprehensive of so dread- 
ful an event, let us think how we shall" prevent its taking effect, and 
especially on the present occasion. As to my own part I have too 
little experience to suggest any ways or means, by which harmony 
could be restored; but I think if yourself with some of the leading 
friends of both the candidates could have an interview previous to 
the general meeting, and talk the matter over seriously, something 
might be done towards a compromise, or at least to put the election 
on such a footing that the contest between the two candidates should 
not effect the ticket in any other respect than that of sheriff. And 
even in this respect, I think it desirable, should a compromise not 
take place, that something could be done, that would induce the can- 
didates and their friends to electioneer in a candid, fair and liberal 
manner. For it is the false electioneering stories that irritate, & do 
most of the mischief of which the Demos, will not forget to avail 
themselves. These no doubt they will industriously circulate to set 
us by the ears. 

Tomorrow is meeting day here if you can conveniently come per- 
haps an earlier time might be fixed on than before mentioned and 
some arrangement could be made preparitory to the general meeting 
that might be of happy effect. 

With much regard I remain. Sir, your very obt & hble fervt 

O. Horsey 

P. S. — f regret the death of Doc. Lacos. Isaac Davis is appointed 
to succeed him in the registers office. Cap. White I understand has 
marched to Elizabeth Town. The federalists in Kent I hear are 
Hkely to have considerable difficuly about their sheriff, or rather 
about the person to run with Brinkly Wear. 

N. B. — As soon as the time of meeting is fixed I will drop you a 
line, but am in hopes you will be here tomorrow & that it will then 
be concluded upon. 

Geo: Town 9. Sep. '99. 

Dear Sir: — You will not be a little surprised at my addrefsing 
you again on the subject of the election. It is doing what I did not 
expect to do when we parted last. But knowing the alhmportance 
of our party, I could not reconcile it to my fealings, not to make one 
effort more, at least, to afsuage the impending storm. 



302 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUXTY. 

If you adhere to the ticket you made out on tuesday last )'OU 
drive the friends of Mr. Batson to a measure, in my mind, highly 
alarming. To a measure which nothing but the kind of policy used by 
the friends of Mr. Robinson in forming their ticket could ever induce 
me to consent to adopt. I mean that of forming a seperate ticket. 
My dear sir shall we thus divide and destroy ourselves and suffer the 
common enemy to take the field, in wch they have been so often 
and so long defeated. They have already began to rally, and I am 
told, should we divide, mean to make a desperate effort. They care 
nothing about the Sheriffs. The representatives are their aim. But 
I yet indulge a faint hope they will be disappointed. 

I understand you mean to meet us again tomorrow. Can't some- 
thing be done to unite us in forming the ticket as it regards senators, 
representatives, and Levy Court, if not as to Sheriffs. To attain this 
object I would propose that we meet and form the ticket in all respects 
excepting sheriff but about these say nothing. After we have formed 
the ticket in this way, the friends of our candidate can retire to another 
room and complete the ticket and those who remain can do the same. 
I do not know that Mr. Batson's friends can be brought into this meas- 
ure. But I flatter myself if the friends of Mr. Robinson would cor- 
dially acquiesce, it might be effected. As one of Mr. B's friends I 
declare I wish it from my heart and will do all in my power to bring 
it about, and I am authorised to say Gen. Mitchell will do the same, 
altho' it's relinquishing a right Mr. Batson is entitled to, and may 
operate against him. But any thing to disappoint and Shagrin the 
Jacobins. If something of this kind can't be done where is the use 
of our meeting ? We had better not meet at all. For our meeting will 
only tend to exasperate and widen the breach. 

I was at Little Creek on Saturday last. I there saw a number of 
different tickets. But Batson's name in all. There was a large meet- 
ing, three companies, wch were for Batson Neinine Cont. Old Town- 
send has started the Union Ticket, headed himself Senator &c. 
Should this ticket be pushed with as much succefs at it was at the 
last election, I should think it very probable, if we should run sepa- 
rate tickets, that some of the Demos, would get into the Legislature. 
But I trust federalism has too many friends in this County thus to be 
wounded. 

With sincere regard & esteem I am, dear sir, Your Most Obt & 
hble Servt O. Horsey 

Geo: Town 18 Sep. '99. 
Dear Sir; — I should have been one of the last persons to attack 
Mr. Robinson's character in any shape, but especially in so serious a 
point as that of religion. But when he and his friends have made 
the afsault. When I see them labouring to degrade Mr. Batson, and 
to destroy his reputation, not only as a politician, but as a private 
man, I can't help emotions of resentment, and fealing a disposition to 
retaliate. It was no longer than monday last, Mr. Sam. Williams, 
in the presence of Mr. Robinson, as I am told by unquestionable au- 
thority, in a speech he made to the people, declared Mr. Batson was 
a damned rascal, a poor deceitful scroundrel, not to be trusted with 
the public money, and every man that voted for him was a damned 
rascal. Is it, my friend, to be expected that speeches of this kind 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 303 

are to pafs unnoticed? Is it to be expected that Mr. Batson's char- 
acter is to be tourn in pieces with, what we shall make appear, 
unfounded accusations and the most unprovoked slander, without 
recrimination? We have testimony in our hands completely to 
refute all the charges made against Mr. Batson, even the big story 
that is made out of what Mr France has said. Doc. Robertson con- 
versed with Mr. France on this subject yesterday was a week, and 
from what Mr. France told the Doc. I am most fully satisfyed that 
there has been a misconstruction on what Mr. Batson said to France. 

It is to be regreted that any accusations have been made, but as Mr. 
Robinson & his friends gave the first blow, they must expect to re- 
ceive the last. And let it be remembered that all Mr. Batson has 
said & done or may say and do, is nothing more than Mr. Robinson's 
own strokes recoiling upon himself. 

We collected several of Mr. Batson's friends last evening. I 
read to them your letter. The determination was that the affi- 
davit of Mr. Houston should be put into print. 

I remain, dear Sir, with much regard your hble Servt 

O. Horsey 

N. B. — I think when we saw each other last, it was understood 
that when we intended any part of our correspondence on the sub- 
ject of the election, to be in confidence, it was so to be expressly 
mentioned. I hope I did not do wrong in reading your letter. 

Geo : Town 16. Oct. '99. 

Dear Sir: — I forgot to speak to you about the clerkship of the 
house of representatives. I understand Tho: Clayton has it in view. 
Should you give me the preference, will you be so good as to speak 
to Mr. Burton & Doc. Wolf on the subject & such other of the mem- 
bers as you may have an oppy. to speak with. 

When I talked of offering there was no person who made any pre- 
tention excepting Mr. Fisher, whether Mr. Clayton knew I ment to 
apply I cannot tell, but should think it probable he did, as it was 
known by a number of gentlemen in Dover. As to the appointment 
itself I feel quite indifferent but do not wish to give it up before I 
can develop the mistery of Clayton's standing. 

If I find Mr. Clayton did not know I intended to offer and that he 
stood simply in opposition to Fisher perhaps I shall relinquish. But 
wish to be prepared for the event of his opposing me. 

White tells me I can certainly get four of the Kent members and if 
I can get sufsex there can be no doubt of my succefs. I should think 
it probable that New Castle will vote for Clayton. Your afsistance 
in this businefs will be greatfuUy acknowledged. 

I remain as ever with Sincere regard your hbl Servt 

O. Horsey 

I was informed yesterday by Mr. John Robinson that a Mr. Young 
of Cedar Creek declares that Mr. Rodgers told him that he Mr. 
Rodgers heard Mr. Bayard say "that the people of Delaware were 
not half taxed." This story this Young and Mr. Haygalett are making 
great use of and do not hesitate to make it known that Mr. Rodgers 
is the author. I am sure it is impofsible that Mr. R. could have 



304 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

made any such declaration and that this story must be a mere 
creation of Youngs or some other Democrats brain. 

Would it not be advisable for you to write to Mr. Rodgers and 
obtain a cerfificate on the subject. This story I understand is the 
most formidable Weapon against us. O. Horsey 

Hon. Sir: — Although nearly a stranger, yet from the parental 
affection displayed by you to the people of your neighbourhood, I 
am emboldened to Addrefs you on the present occafsion. 

I have been informed by our Poftmaster (Capt Frisbee) that at 
the expiration of the present quarter [Aexpires in April] he shall re- 
linquish the Poft Office and as I have been accustomed to conduct 
a P. O. I have to beg the favor of your intercefsion forrne with the 
Poftmafter General as his Succefsor. If Sir thro your means I may 
be so happy as to get the Appointmt I shall consider myself under 
a lasting obligation. 

With the profoundest respt I am, Sir, your obdt Servt 

W. Black 
Dover Feb. 25th 1800 

B®° If Security or a recommendation is wanted I can procure the 
first from my friends and I make no doubt Mr. Nining would give me 
the latter tho' I have not asked him. 

Sir: — I have reed your Letter of ye 25th of last Month relating 
to the Post Office. I do not know what may be the Intentions of 
the Post Mastr Genl, but I should suppose he would be much influenced 
in his Selection of a Person to succeed Mr. L. if [illegible] by a Rec- 
ommendation from ye Inhabitants of Dover. You will pardon me 
for saying that I cannot support your Application under any other 
Circumstances. As You have so lately become a Citizen of our 
State your Pretensions to this office ought to be maintained in the 
most unequivocal Manner by those among whom you reside — & more 
particularly so seeing yt they are the Persons. 

Geo: Town 19 June 1800 

Dear Sir: — A number of gentlemen, both of Mr. Robinson's & Mr. 
Batson's friends having met on tuesday last to make some arrange- 
ments for the fourth of July, the subject of representatives to congress 
was mentioned; — and tuesday the 15th of July was agreed on as the 
time of meeting, at this place, to appoint the conferrees to meet at 
the Court of Appeals. 

The conferrees are appointed in New Castle. I am happy to say 
we met on both sides as if no differences had existed. 

We calculate on the pleasure of your company the fourth of July. 

Accept my thanks for the loan of De Lome. I have sent you the 
Journal of the Senate & House of Representatives. 

The Deed you sent me I have not been able to acknowledge owing 
to neither of the Witnefses attending to prove the excon of it which 
is required by the practice of the Court. Mr. Tunnel & Isaiah Long 
are the Witnefses. You had better get one of them to come in the 
next Court. 

I remain as ever with great regard Your Obt Servt 

O. Horsey 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 305 

Geo: Town 11. June 1801. 

Dear Sir; — If you have any of the bills containing Genl. Wash- 
ington's Certificate published at Mr. Bafsetts election to refute the 
charge that he was a tory, I'll thank you to send me one or two. Will 
you also be good enough to State if you recollect whether the bill 
verbatim or in substance was not printed in the Delaware & Eastern 
Shore Advertiser, or if you have the paper containing it be so good 
as to send it. 

Have you heard of the letters Mr. Hargis lately has written to 
several of our friends in Little Creek. 

For this two weeks past this place has been more sickley than it 
was ever known to be — I have been confined about a week but am now 
getting up. 

In haste Yours with regard & esteem O Horsey 

Geo; Town 11. Sep. 1801. 

Dear Sir; — The following is the arrangement concluded on with 
regard to our meetings — Baltimore, at the Widow Waples' on Thurs- 
day 17th inst.; Dagsborough at Tho; Wests on Friday the 18th; 
Indian River at the Chapel on Saturday the 19th; Ceder Creek at 
EH Williams on Thursday the 24th; North W. Fork at Bridge 
Branch on Friday the 25th; Little Creek at English's on Saturday 
the 26th; Xanticke at Wm. Jones' on Friday the 2d October and 
at Isaac Short's on Saturday 3d. We were forced to have meetings 
at both these places on account of both having been spoken to & ex- 
pecting it before the places of meeting were concluded on. 

Will it be in your power to send word to the Widow Waples to 
make some proviscon for our dinner & liquors. 

Yours very sincerely O. Horsey. 

Geo: Town 13. Oct. 1801. 
Dear Sir: — I received yours containing the hundred dollars which 
you were pleased to return. As yet none of the gentlemen have come 
down but Mr. Johns & Mr. Vandyke. It was thought best by Mr. 
Johns & myself to postpone giving you an answer upon the subject 
of the invitation you were so obliging to make, till thursdays mail, 
that we might know the disposition of the other gentlemen. 

I remain as ever yours O. Horsey. 

Geo: Town 23. Sep. 1802. Thursday 
Dear Sir: — I send you the document by the driver and please to 
accept my thanks for the use of it. I am not able to give you a 
precise account of the little elections. The general result tho' is we 
are beat in 3 Hds. and have beat in 7. The Majority in Broad Creek 
and L. Rohoboth are something greater against us than they weer 
the last year, but the Majority in N. W. Fork is considerably lefs. 
All the rest have terminated much as usual. 

Our first meeting is at Isaac Shorts on tomorrow. The next day 
it is at Mrs. Wests the widow of Tho : Wests. The Thursday succeed- 
ing at Eli Williams in Ceder Creek and next day at Bridge Branch. 
And the next day at English's. If your health will admit of it your 
attendance will be very material. I calculate on a bold opposition 



306 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

from the other party. They will no doubt send their oritors round 
with us. 

We have taken great pains to draw our conferees out next tuesday 
and I am persuaded we shall have a full meeting. The Com. of Con. 
are to meet that day Mr. Rodney is written to and will no doubt 
attend. My expectation is great upon the good effects of this Meet- 
ing. We must here afsign some of the most active to ride from 
house to house in each hundred and we must endeavour to devise 
ways & means to get those out who have not conveyances of whom 
I am told there is a great number in Ceder Creek. 

In hase Yours sincerely O. H. 

Geo: Town 31. July 1803. 

Dear Sir: — I have reed another duning letter from Black for 
his $20. This letter is dated {he 22d inst. What has become of 
your remittance? It must have miscarried. I did not think to ask 
you when here if you had ever reed the ten dollars I enclosed you, 
but I take it for granted you did. I sd be glad to here from you on 
this subject. 

I have just got about after a weeks confinement by an inflamation 
in my face occasioned by an unsuccessful attempt to extract a tooth. 

Yours truly &c O. Horsey 

Geo: Town 17. Sep. 1803 
Dear Sir: — In Leues & R. we have lost our Inspector but have 
carried our Afsefsor C. Wiltbank by a majority of 5. This our friends 
consider a great victory & the demos, are completely downd. Every 
exertion was made on both sides. The election was as large as the 
last year & the year before. We have beat in N. W. Fork hand- 
somely Laws & Handy are elected by a majortty of 31. In short 
we shall have all the little elections except Brad Creek where I am 
told we did not intend to make opposition. Indian R. Little Creek 
& Nauticoke I have heard from they are ours. We shall certainly 
attend to the Levy Lists. As Laws is elected I take it for granted 
that Sordein continues. I am unable to answer as to David Smith 
but will endeavour to send you word tuesday next. We have up- 
wards of ;£20. subscribed to the Library. 

Yours truly. O. H. 

Washn, 28th Nov. 1811. 

My dear friend: — I but this moment reed enclosing the note 
yours without date. I fear its too late. But I have guarded against 
[illegible] by sending my note endorced by Mr. Ridgely to meet 
yours in Bank. So there can be no protest. I have tho endorced 
the note you enclosed & sent it to Mr. Worrell & have directed 
him to return it to me in case it should not be in time. 

Your prize shall be attend to. Harrison has been surprized & se- 
verely handled by the Prophet. The U. S. Troops lost in killed & 
wounded 179 — out of about 700 — Numbers engaged nearly equal on 
both sides. Harrison was surprised by a piece of the most refined 
treachery. The Prophet on the day of the morning before he made 
the attack, sent about forty men to Harrison of a tribe supposed to 
be most averse to the war with the U. S. who afsured Harrison that 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 307 

they were the friends of the U. S. & ubraided him for having shewn 
such a want of confidence in them — , that they did not mean war & 
would intercede with the Prophet & that a White flag should be sent 
the next day. The next morning about 4. oclok the Indians killed 
the centinels with arrows & got into the midft of the camp of our 
troops before so unexpectly tiiat many were tomihocked before they 
could drefs themselves. Our men as soon & as well as they could 
abandoned the camp & rallied & formed at some distance. When 
the action afsumed a lefs promiscuous & more regular form & con- 
tinued till about sun rise, when upon the appearance of the horse the 
Indians gave way. I saw a letter from a Capt Wells who was in St. 
Clairs defeat & had fought with Waine & been in many Indian fights 
but says this was the hardest & best maintained on both sides. Our 
troops followed the Indians & burnt the Prophets Town wch was 
in about one mile of the camp, & on returning to the frontiers. 
They were about 100 Miles in the Indian Territory from the set- 
tlements, and it is apprehended, may suffer much on the retreat for 
want of provisions as the Indians destroyed nearly all their provisions 
while they had pofsef sion of t camp & sd the Indians attack them on 
the retreat, wch is apprehended some suppose we must suffer very 
severely, if not be destroyed. 

A very serious riot has lately happened at Savannah. Two French 
Privateers were burnt, & the [illegible] were obliged to fly to the Jail 
as an asylum agst the fury of t mob. It or [illegible] — a banditti of 
French sailors had stabbed two americans, sailors, who it seems were 
buried a la [illegible] Pearce, I mean in solem procefsion. Our tars 
as soon as they had paid their last tribute to thir brothers resolved 
to be avenged. They were Joined by the Citizens & immediately 
pofsefsed themselves of one of the Privateers & burnt her. In the 
mean time the other was armed by French & a body of Mareens 
belonging to U. S. who were ordered to protect the vefsel. [illegible] 
they got another vefsel & loaded her with combustable material & 
were laying her along side of the privateer to blow her up. Our 
marines seeing the fury of the afsailants abandoned the privateer to 
her fate. She also was burnt. 

This is news enough for one letter, in case you have not seen or 
heard it before. The documents are not printed yet. 

O. Horsey 

Wilmington 24. Aug. 1814. 
My dear Wells: — The cashier of the bank at Laurel has in- 
formed me that the rules of the Bank require that persons residing 
out of the County should have two indorcers residents of the 
County. I had a note for one thousand dollars discounted at that 
Bank some time ago which runs out the 27th of next month wch 
was indorced by two gentlemen of this town and to bring it within 
the rules of the Bank Mr. Bull and Mr. Polk were good enough to 
volunteer their indorcements. As I do not wish to impose on the 
goodness of Mr. Bull I have taken the liberty to send the enclosed 
note for your indorsement and will thank you to indorse the same 
and take it with you if you are a director, or otherwise send it to Mr. 
Polk the cashier in due time, to whom I have written. If it should be 
convenient to you I should be very glad if you would attend the Sen- 



308 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

ate on the first day of the Sefsion, on account of my brother in law 
A. L. who is an appUcant for the secretaryship, for whom I am 
sure you will vote on my account, if there be no other applicant of 
higher claims to your preference. 

Yours as ever truly & sincerely O. Horsey. 

Remember me to my friends in your neighbourhood & in Geo : Town. 

WiL 24. Apl 1817. 

Dear Wells : — I have reed yr communication & the duplicate 
but our gentlemen are so scattered that I find it impofsible to get 
their signatures at present. I am this moment on the point of starting 
for my farm & when I return I shall devote myself your business. 

In haste. God blefs & prosper yr undertakings O.- Horsey 

WiL. 26. Aug. 1817. 

My Dear Wells; — I was not at home when your letter arrived, 
but had I been it would not have sa\'ed the protest as the notarial 
seal had been af&xed to it before your letter was mailed or at least 
before the date of the post mark. The truth' is, tho the officers of 
the bank growl and snarll, you are very popular with the notary & 
so long as your custom enables him to buy his bread he will praise 
you for your absence of mind & wish you forgetfulness. It is however 
well enough. Your forgetfulness operates as a benevolence. The 
notary is a worthy revolutionary officer & like most of his surviving 
compeers, poor and needy. He is worthy of your charity & may 
your memory fail you while his wants continue. 

Every other blessing I wish you with all my soul. O. Horsey 

N. B. — Please sign the note enclosed "twice" & send it without 
delay to y cashier of the bank at Laurel & request him to procure 
Mr. Polke's endorsement. Also please send y check with y note. 

Yr letter being 3ble I had to pay 25 cents additional postage & 



Letter to The Honorable Gunning Bedford, Esq., New Castle. 

Dagsborough 10 June 1795. 
Sir: — Having been summoned to attend the Circuit Courts, as a 
Grand Juror, and it not being in my Power to obey this notice, I think 
it my Duty to communicate to the Court the occasion of my not 
attending. At the Time I received the Marshall's Summons, it was 
fully my Intention to have complied with its Requisition. I had, 
but a few Days, returned from condoling with the Friends of my 
honor'd, deceased mother, when it became necessary for me to leave 
Home, again, in pursuance of the Summons I have mentioned. Not- 
withstanding the considerable Inconvenience of undertaking another 
long Journey under these Circumstances, I resolved to discharge my 
Duty, & accordingly did set oS; but I had scarce proceeded twenty 
Miles before my Horse became fick & I was compelled to return. 
Thus, Sir, I shall be prevented from attending, not, I beg Leave to 
assure the Court, by a Disposition to treat its orders without proper 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 309 

Respect upon all occasions whatsoever, but by Circumstances not 
within my control. 

I have the Honor to be Sir, yr most obed hble Sv 

Wm. Hill Wells 
The HoNBLE Gunning Bedford Esq. 

Letter froin S. White to Outerhridge Horsey, George T 011071. 

Dover Octr 8th 1802 
The Democracy of Delaware has done its utmost — it has trampled 
on tallents and merrit and disgraced our State — Bayard is beat and 
that too by only fifteen votes — R' majority in X. C. was 957 Bayard 
in this county had 219 and in Sufsex it seems 723. We are down — 
the irishmen of N. C. are to govern Kent & Sufsex. fare well. 

S White 

Letter from Daniel Rodney, Esq., to Commodore Murray. 

Lewes Feb 24th 1814 

Sir: — The app of a Ship of the Line, two frigates, and a Sloop of 
War off the Cape on Saty and Sun last having caused an alarm along 
the Shores of Delaware, and in the Creeks where they were preparing 
to fit out and load their Shallops for Philada I addd a Letter to A Genl 
Duane on Tues y last — SoUicitg him* to send us some military aid if 
within his power, there being no force of any descripn organd here 
or indeed in the State except abt 40 of the inhab of this Town chiefly 
Pils witht any Compt officer yet they are cald U. S. volunteers. 

Persuad that a part of the Flotilla, could be advantageously em- 
ployed in the Western or Shallop Channel, to protect and convoy 
the trade to.Phila, and believing the Naval force in the Del. to be 
under your direction Permit me to request your attention to this 
measure — if the G B and Gs should be ordered on this Service, 
tho' it is early in the season they will be perfectly secure from the 
X and E winds as they can make a harbour in any of the Creeks from 
Bomb H to Lewes when the Wind is on Shore,* if necefsary good Pilots 
for the Creeks can be obtained here or at Milford — I need not say to 
you who has such a perfect knowledge of the Bay, thay the Enemy 
cannot approach them the flotilla in this Channel except in their 
Barges — * while the Shears, Boyds Shoals, and the long Western 
flat, secures them from an Attack from the Enemy except in their 
Barges. 

I am Sir with great respect Your Obt Servt D R 

Come Murray. 

Letter from William Hill Wells, Esq., to The Hon. William Hunter. 

Dagsborough, June 2Sth, 1817. 
My dear Sir: — I forward you herewith a more succinct Sketch of 
the Estate, than that which I transmitted you previous to your em- 
barking for England. I should prefer receiving the payment, to be 
made, in Cash: — but if it be a sine qua non, I agree to receive a part, 
say a moiety of the whole amount or, if indispensably necefsary, the 
whole in Manchester, Sheffield Birmingham and Leeds manufactures 
suited for the Philadelphia Market, at the same Prices for which they 
are Shipped there on orders. Sixty thousand Dollars, clear of all 



310 ■ SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. ' 

Expences, is the very lowest sum I will take : and the more I think of 
sacrificing a moiety of this immensely increasing Estate which prom- 
ises so fairly to be in so short a Period, a Principality for my Family — 
if I can keep it — the lefs I like to do it. Let me hear from you on 
your Receipt of this Communication. 

With the sincerest wishes for your Health and Happiness and 
Succefs believe me truly and affectionately Your's 

Wm. Hill Wells. 

P. S. — I am content to receive for my share of the sixty thousand 
dollars the sum of fifty thousand — and to divide with you all that can 
be got above sixty thousand — I do, on my conscience believe that 
one hundred thousand dollars for a moiety — is but a small Price. 

Bill of Sale, James Maull to Tho. Rodney, for Negroe Boy Cyrus, 
Aged II yrs or Thereabouts. 

Know all men by these presents that I James Maull of George 
Town in the County of Sufsex and State of Delaware for and in 
Consideration of the sum of Two Hundred Dollars Lawful money 
to me in hand paid by Thomas Rodney Esquire of Lewes Town in 
the County and State aforesaid at and before the sealing and de- 
livery of these presents, the receipt whereof the said James Maull 
do hereby acknowledge, have granted bargained sold and confirmed 
and by these presents do grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said 
Thomas Rodney Esqr. his heirs Executors Administrators or afsigns 
a Certain Negro or Mulatto Boy named Cye or Cyrus about the age 
of Eleven years at the date of these presents. To have and to hold 
all & Singular the Negro or Mulatto Boy afsd. by these presents granted, 
bargained sold and confirmed unto the only proper use benefit & be- 
hoof of him the said Thomas Rodney his heirs Executors adminis- 
trators and afsigns forever, freely, quietly, peaceably and entirely 
without any Contradiction, claim, disturbance or hindrance of any 
person or persons whatsoever and without any account to me, or to 
any other whatsoever to be made, answered or hereafter to be ren- 
dered, so that neither I the said James Maull, nor any other for me or 
in my name, ought to exact, challenge, claim, or demand at any 
time or times hereafter, any right, interest, claim or demand of, in to 
or for the afsd Negro or Mulatto Boy, but from all action, right, title, 
estate, claim, demand, pofsefsion and interest thereof, shall be wholly 
based and excluded by force & virtue of these presents, and I the 
said James Maull for myself my heirs Exors & Admrs shall & will 
warrant & forever defend the afsd. Boy unto the said Thomas Rodney 
his heirs Exors Admrs & afsigns against me the said James Maull 
my heirs Exors Admrs & afsigns & against all & every other person or 
persons whatsoever of the before mentioned Boy I the said James 
Maull have put the said Thomas Rodney in full pofsefsion of the afsd. 
Negro or Mulatto Boy Cyrus, In witnefs whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and seal this Twenty third day of January in the year 
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Nineteen." 

James Maull [seal] 

Signed, Sealed & Delivered 

In the presence of 

James P. W. Kollock 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 



311 



Reed January 23d 1819 of Thomas Rodney for the use of James 
Maul in Cash One Hundred Dollars & his Bond for One Hundred 
Dollars which when paid will be in full for the Consideration Money 
of the Boy within Mentioned James P. W. Kollock 

Test. Danl Rodney • 

Muster Roll of the First Company of Delaware Light Artillery 
attached to the First Battalion Eighth Regiment Third Brigade Dela- 
ware Militia. 

1 James P. Barker Captain 

2 John E. Parker 1st Lieut. 

3 Caleb R. Layton 1st Lieut. 

4 James M. Rench 2nd Lieut. 

1 Short TV. Vincent , Orderly Sergt. 

2 Thomas B Sipple 2nd 

3 Levan B Day 3rd " 

' 4 Elisha Gothard 4th 

5 James Dunning 5th " 

1 WiUiam Short ( of G) 1st Corpl. 

2 Nathan Mefsick 2nd 

3 James S Chase 3rd " 

4 Thomas W Hatteld 4th 

1 Adams Isaac Private. 

2 Barker Robinson 

3 Chase George B 

4 Conaway John 

5 Conaway Jef se 

6 Davis Henry 

7 Dodd George 

8 EUegood WiUiam 

9 E wing Adolphus P 

10 Elwell Charles 

1 1 Fisher Isaac M 

12 Greenley Thomas 

13 Houston John W 

14 Hastings Luther 

15 Hunter Joseph 

1 6 Jefferson Job 

17 KoUick Jacob M 

18 Mefsick John 

19 Marvell Joseph H 

20 Morris Joseph B 

21 Morris Elihu 

22 Maxfield Elias 

23 McCalla John W 

24 McCalla Daniel: 

25 Pettyjohn Rowland D 

26 Pettyjohn Theadore 

27 Pettyjohn William 

28 Pettyjohn Purnall 

29 Parker James A ■ • • 

30 Pride Job 

31 Pepper Edward G 



312 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

32 Pepper Peter Private. 

33 Pepper Levan 

34 Pepper Nutter 

35 Prettyman Burton C 

36 Pafsionters John 

37 Reynolds William 

38 Short John M 

39 Short Samuel 

40 Windsor Philip : 

41 Wolfe James A 

42 Wolfe Wm P 

43 Walls George 

44 Wilson Major 

I Certify on Honor Xhat this Muster Roll exhibits the true state 

of the First Company of Delaware Light Artillery and the above named 
persons are fully equipped with the Uniform of the Company 

James P Barker 
Captain Commanding 
Georgetown Del. September 22nd 1846 

For the Gazette of the United States. 

To the 

People of the United States 

No. 12. 

Friends & Countrymen: — I quit the Farmer in my last Number 
just as he was boasting that the Innocence of the Federalists, with 
regard to the Charge against them of embezzling the public Money, 
had been made as clear as the Sun at Mid-day. As I mean to reserve 
myself until he has done, I shall not at this Moment, trouble you 
with any Comments of mine upon this extraordinary Production of 
his; but proceed to give it to you as he has given it to me. 

The Farmer's Letter 

to 

Richard Falstaff, 

continued. 

"Be so good as to tell me, Mr. Falstaff, why Congress does not 
call up the List of "black stocking" Gentry, that have made away 
with the public Money during the administrations of Mr. Jefferson 
and Mr. Madison ? For a very plain Reason they do not, because 
the People would then see the damning Proofs that their own Party 
had been guilty of the very Offences that they falsely charged the 
Federalists with. 

I confess to you, upon this Subject, I can not restrain my Indig- 
nation. Such Villany ought not to go unpunished — a Whip ought 
to be put into the Hand of every honest Man to lash it through the 
World. Twenty two thousand dollars given to one Favourite! — and 
a hundred thousand stolen and run away with by another! — two 
very pretty little Items in the account of Virtue and Patriotism! 

Yes, Sir, the Federalists were honest men; and after your Party 
had slandered them — vilely slandered them out of the good opinion 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 313 

of their Fellow Citizens, your Leaders thought it wise to make a Merit 
of Xecessity, and candidly acknowledge them honest Men. You, 
and the whole of you, have now had nearly twelve years for Enquiry 
and Investigation, and, I repeat, there is not a single Federalist, 
employed in the Government of the United States, upon whom you 
have been able to fix the Charge of Peculation. All the Instances 
of Corruption, and Knavery, and Falsehood, and Deceit and Treach- 
ery that have happened in the Affairs of the United States Govern- 
ment, for now nearly four and twenty Years, have been on your 
Side of the House. 

You seem to think the Villany of Brown of New Orleans a trifle. 
Sir, was it a Trifle to run away with more than a hundred Thousand 
Dollars of the public Money? That Sum would have defrayed the 
govermental Expenses of some of our smaller States for nearly ten 
years. The Embezzlement of about the Uke Sum by one of your 
leading Republicans, formerly of New York, now of New Orleans, 
you pafs over with the same nonchalance. I suppose you would 
consider as a Trifle the Present made by Mr. Jefferson, at the very 
threshold of his Administration, out of the public Money to Mr. Cal- 
lender: not only contrary to Law, but in violation of the Consti- 
tution which he was sworn to support. The princely Present of 
Twenty two thousand Dollars to Mr. Erving you skipped over: know- 
ing, perhaps, that the least that was said upon that Topic the better 
—because an Investigation of it would implicate your Idol Jefferson — 
his Deputy Aladison — and their myrmidons in Congrefs who assisted 
in throwing the Veil of Authority over that shamelefs Transaction. 
You may say that Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison ought not to be 
responsible for the malconduct of their Agents. I am fully aware, 
I acknowledge, that bad Men will get into office sometimes notwith- 
standing all the Foresight and Vigilance that can be exercised: but 
both of those Gentlemen ought to be responsible when they have 
been in the Practice of confiding important Trusts to notorious 
Swindlers and blackstocking adventurers. Mr. Madison, most es- 
pecially, ought to be answerable when he acknowledges that he rec- 
ommends men to the Senate whom, he knows at the Time, are un- 
worthy of the Appointments he nominates them for. 

You will [must] excuse me for not dismissing the Subject of Money 
Affairs so soon as you may wish to get rid of it. Your Leaders were 
wont formerly to dwell a good deal upon this Subject: but, in this 
Respect at least, they have entirely failed to fix any Stigma upon 
the poor Federalists, who have come out of the Furnace you heated 
for them unhurt. I am not going [disposed] to throw you into that 
Furnace, much as you deserve it: but you cannot surely blame me 
for wishing to put you, and your Friends to some little Trial. We 
will say nothing more of the Twenty two thousand Dollars 
made a Present of to Mr. Ervine : but, if you please, we will turn our 
attention from the civil to the military Department. Your Idol 
professed to have a great Regard for the "Mouth of Labour;" and 
you shall see what pretty, nice, sweet little Things he reserved for 
the mouths of his Friends. 

From the 7th of December 1803 to the 24th of April 1804 (just 
four Months and seventeen Days) Governour Clairborne and General 
Wilkinson were employed, as Commissioners, in taking Possession 



314 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

of New Orleans, and their Table Expencbs, for that Period, amounted 
to Six thousand, six hundred and nineteen Dollars and seventy 
TWO Cents. I shall not trouble you with more than a few Items 
from the List of Particulars sucli as 844 Bottles of Claret (a very 
costly wine) — nine hundred and twelve Bottles of Madeira {the Farm- 
ers of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania know what Madeira costs) 
144 Bottles of Champaign {a very nice and delicate Wine & comes 
confoundedly high) — fifty Bottles of white Wine (J don't know much 
about that) 100 Bottles of Hermitage {old Hermitage, I suppose, thai 
must cost I should guefs three or four Dollars, at the least, a Bottle) 558 
Bottles of red wine {this, I suppose, must be Tokay — it comes all the 
way from the Dominions of Bonaparte's Father in Law, and they say 
it is a most charming wine — rich, luscious and aromatic in the highest 
Degree — I'll set this down, as the Farmer does not tell us how much it 
costs, at half an Eagle a Bottle — and I wish to gracious I had some of 
it this m.oment at Hand to drink General Wilkinson, & Governor Clair- 
borne & Mr. Jeffersons healths: — but I beg your Pardon, Mr. Farmer, 
go on again if you please with your Bill of Fare) 81 Bottles of Porter 
(we all know what this is, and if I had been Mr. Jefferson's Accomptant 
I would have allowed him for 8l Hogsheads instead of 8l Bottles — for it 
looks asham-ed resting on the Ground under the "huge Legs" of the other 
Items.) 258 Bottles of Ale {siircly the Ale & Porter Brewers of New 
Orleans must have brought themselves under the Displeasure of our noble 
General) 67 gallons of Brandy {this is worse than all — 6f gallons of 
Brandy ! — this was not more than enough to have made Fog slings for 
the General & the Governor — which, for four months and feventeen Days 
was just half a gallon a piece for every morning. Lord if our poor 
foldiers that died there like rotten sheep could have had enough of this 
they would still have been alive to help us take the Canadas from the 
British.) and eleven thousand three hundred and fifty Cegars. 
{In New England here, I admit that eleven thousand three himdred <Sf 
fifty Cegars {Spanish Cegars too I suppose) would be a pretty good Al- 
lowaiKe for a couple of hearty fellows and a few Friends for four months 
& feventeen Days: but the Farmer does not consider that the gingling 
of Glasses & the Smoke of Tobacco are absolutely necessary, at New 
Orleans, to keep off the Musquitoes : and besides, too, he totally forgets 
that Mr. Jefferson sent those Gentlemen to take possession of New Or- 
leans and it would have been a pretty story if they had surrendered them.- 
selves Prisoners to the Musquitoes, as the Southern People have the 
Impudence to say some of our Yankey officers did to the Bullfrogs during 
our Revolutionary war.) I omit the Cakes, the Mackaroons, and the 
Sugar Plumbs {Lord why would you leave them out ? You don't con- 
sider how much good they may have done f Would you have had our 
Republican General and Governor to have gone about among the Women ■ 
and Children, like old Elves, with hard boiled Eggs in their Pockets'? 
You can't suppose that two fitch old Fellows could have been liquorish 
enough to have eaten those things themselves : — no — no — they made better 
use of them, they distributed them to the Women and Children: and 
when the General gave to the Men of this new Country some of his rich, 
luscious Tokay, they, no Doubt, exclaimed with Calaban, 

This is a brave God, and bears celestial Liquer; 

We will kneel to him.) When the People add to this modest 
account the Pay of their General, they will find that their Presidents 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 315 

of New Orleans, for the Time being, cost them more than their Presi- 
dent at Washington. 

From the 13th of September 1806 to the 24th of May 1807, Gen- 
eral Wilkinson was allowed for Rations 2033 Dollars and fixty fix 
Cents, notwithstanding it was exprefsly declared by an Act of Con- 
grefs, passed on the 16th of March 1802 that his Pay of 225 dollars 
per month should be "his full and entire Compensation, without a" 
"Right to demand, or receive any Rations, Forage, travelling Ex-" 
"pences,* or other Perquisite or Emolument whatsoever, except such" 
"Stationary as might be requisite for the use of his Department." 
In the eight months then he recived for Pay & Rations 3900 Dollars. 
You will please to add to this, his Salary of Governor of upper Louis- 
iana, for the said eight months, about 1700 dollars, and you have 
for your republican Brigadier General 5600 dollars; which is at the 
Rate of 8400 dollars per year. 

In 1802 and 1803 he received, for his personal Expenses, 2715 
dollars and 29 Cents: — as Indian Commissioner 4898 dollars: — and 
as Brigadier General 5400 dollars, total 13913 dollars and twenty 
nine Cents, or Six thousand nine hundred and fifty six dollars and 
fixty four Cents per annum. 

I make no account of 3879 dollars & 79 Cents paid him by John 
Wilkins; nor of 7891 dollars the amount of Money and Supplies 
furnished him by public agents; for, I suppose, he has rendered, or 
will render, his accounts thereof; in which it is but Charity to hope 
that there are no more Charges of Claret and Madeira, and red wine 
and white wine & Champaign & Hermitage, and Mackaroons, and 
Preserves and Sugar Plumbs, seeing there was enough of them, to 
surfeit us all, in the other accounts. Nor do I say any Thing about 
.11000 dollars secret Service Money paid him, as that account was 
Settled with Mr. Jefferson himself who deemed ' ' the Specification of 
its Disbursement inexpedient." , 

Mr. Falstafi you will remember that, during one of the last year's 
administration of the Federalists, Mr. Tracy, a member of the Senate 
of the United States, was sent by the the Secretary of War, in the 
Recess of Congress, upon Businefs of the Public, to the Westward. 
I think he was allowed six dollars per Day for his Services : and there 
was a Washerwoman's Bill, and perhaps a Barber's Bill in the List 
of his Expences. Have you forgotten the Noise you exclusive Patriots 
made about this thing at the Time? Mr. Tracy was a poor Man, 
and very probably travelled with his Saddle bags behind him : and 
his Six dollars per Day enabled him to lay by something for his Wife 
and Children at Home, who lived in plain republican SimpKcity. 
My God! what would have been said if Mr. Tracy had sent in his 
Bill of Hermitage, and Madeira, & Champaign, and Cegars, and red 
wine and white wine, and macaroons, and Sweet meats, and Sugar 
Plumbs? Where is the Difference in the Case ? Was not Mr. Tracy 
made of the same Flesh and Blood as General Wilkinson? In Point 
of understanding there was no Comparison — it was Silenus to Apollo. 
No Doubt he would have liked a Glass of sparkling old Hermitage as 
well as the General: but not having such a Bank to draw upon he 
was obliged to say, with Horace, (a) 

mea nee Falernoe 

Temperant vites, neque Formiani 
Pocula coUes. 



316 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Yes I venture to say that either the Sugar Plumbs or Mackaroons 
would have been Ratsbane to him. He would never have drank 
any more Tokay or Burgundy or Hermitage or Champaign, as long 
as he lived, at the public Expence. How you impartial — and honest 
— and virtuous — and honourable — and mouth of labour saving Patriots 
would have hopped about with the account and blazoned it to all the 
world! How you would have rung it in our Ears! One would have 
given us the account under the biting Head of "SOBER HABITS." 
Another would have dished it up to us under the Cover of "FEDERAL 
FRUGALITY!!!" Here would have stared us in the Face "A 
FEDERAL NABOB : "—there we should have feen "LOOK AT IT 
FAIRLY:" and here would have been "SIGNS OF THE TIMES!!" 
—"MONARCHY MEN"— and the Lord knows what. 

Yes, yes, I see Mr. Falstafi I am taking Pains for nothing — you 
WILL NOT DARE TO PUBLISH THIS LETTER: and the poor siUy Dupes 
of your Party will glue their Eyes together — and stuff their Ears — 
and turn their Heads away. You will not dare to publish it, and 
yet you need not fear, for they will not dare to read it. Go on good 
Folks — step high over the stumbling Blocks that Truth and Wisdom 
lay in your Path — proceed; you will save your Faces by it — but you 
[balance missing.] 

When Edwd. 
When Edward left his native plain, 
He heaved a sigh he dropt a tear, 
Ere spring returns thy Constant Swain 

Thy faithful Edward will be here 
Tho Edward vowd and I believed 

Ah ! blooming flowrets why so fair 
Alas ye prove that I'm deceived 
for faithlefs Edward is not here. 

The early lark proclaims the Spring 

The Thrush delights with notes so clear 
The flowers will bloom and birds will sing 

Tho faithlefs Edward is not here. 

Had Edward been true oh how blest I'd been 
Each flowret more sweet and more gay every seen 

If he had been true so had I been too 
But if with another he seeks for delight 
To be true to myself I his falsehood requite 

Young Henry is true so will I be too 
At the dance on the green at the wake or the fair 
I'll be happy and Merry tho faithlefs Edward's not there. 

My Sweet Village Maid 
When I quitted the cottage that stands on the Moor 

Round the which play'd the breezes of Health 
'Twas to gain for fair Anna the nymph I adore 

Abroad a snug portion of Wealth 
I told the sweet girl when preparing to part 

Of my constancy ne'er be afraid 
Tho distant your Image will dwell in my heart 
, For there reigns my sweet Village Maid. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 317 

2 
Fortunes prosperous gales had now wafted me back 

And I hasted my Anna to meet 
While fancy pourtrayed while I followed the track 

With what Joy I my Anna shall greet 
How her bright eyes will sparkle approaching to view 

When of present my store I displayed 
And touching her lips, whisper these are for you 

Yes all for my Sweet Village Maid. 

3 
I trudged smiling thus with pleasure my guide 

When a shriek onward did urge 
I flew to the spot saw drove down by the tide 

An angel embraced by the surge. 
I dashed thro the stream brought her safe to the shore. 

On the bank where she gently was laid 
Reviving I saw the dear girl I adore 

Ah me twas my sweet Village Maid. 

Presbyterian Records. 

" At the Court of Common Pleas held in Lewes, Sussex 
County May 6th 1707 before Thomas Fisher, Joseph Booth, 
Jonathan Bailey, James Russell, and William Bagwell Esqrs. 
Justices of said court Thomas Fenwick appeared in open 
court and acknowledged and made over for the use of the 
Presbjrterian professors for a Meeting House, School House 
and burial place a parcel of land in the town of Lewes be- 
tween the county road that goes to- Mr. Samuel Davis' 
plantation, on the Hill, containing one hundred foot square 
according to a deed of settlement bearing date May 6" 
inst." 

The Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 8, 1884, has a very inter- 
esting article by the Rev. Edward S. Neill about the Rev. 
Matthew Wilson, D.D., of Lewes, Delaware. He says: — 

"Among the prominent men in the State of Delaware, during the 
formative period of the Republic, was Matthew Wilson, D.D. of 
Lewes. 

" As a scholar, civilian, physician, educator, and divine, he was 
surpassed by few in America. His parents settled in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, and in East Nottingham Township, on the ISth of 
January, 1731, he was born." 

During his boyhood, a man of remarkable talent and 
versatility, Francis Alison, D.D., afterwards Vice-Provost of 
the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, was settled over a congregation at New London in 
Chester County. 



318 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

As a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, AHson was imbued with 
the idea that the school was as necessary as the church, as 
the anvil to the blacksmith, and that Christianity must 
advance by employing keen-eyed science as her serA'ant. 

He was among the first to agitate for a college in Penn- 
sylvania and Delaware. 

The Presbytery of Lewes, in 1738, sent a memorial to the 
Synod of Philadelphia, in which they use this language: — 

' ' That this part of the world where God has ordered our lot, labours 
under a grievous disadvantage for want of the opportunities of uni- 
versities and professors" skilled in the several branches of useful 
learning, and that many students from Europe are especially cramped 
in prosecuting their studies, their parents removing to these Colonies 
before they have an opportunity of attending the college, after having 
spent some years at the grammar school; and that many persons born 
in the countrj' groan under the same pressure, whose circumstances 
are not able to support them to spend a course of years in the Euro- 
pean or New England colleges &c. &c." 

In 1744 a school was established. Mr. Alison was " chosen 
Master of said school, with privilege of choosing an usher 
under him to assist him." 

Matthew Wilson was pupil under Alison in the school at 
New London. 

Alison was succeded by the Rev. Alexander McDowell. 

Under McDowell Wilson became a teacher in the school. 

By the Presbytery of New Castle, Wilson was ordained as 
a minister October, 1755. 

One of Wilson's pupils was Dr. John Neill, of Snow Hill, 
Maryland. 

Dr. John Neill was the son of John Neill, lawyer, of Lewes, 
and the brother of Col. Henry Neill, of Lewes. After the 
discussions relative to the Stamp Acts, on February 21st, 
1769, a son was born to Wilson, and was named James Patriot 
Wilson. 

When ships with tea, arrived at the mouth of the Delaware 
River, upon which a duty of three pence per pound was to be 
paid for the benefit of the East India Company, he resolved 
that his family should use no more of the article. To recon- 
cile the ladies, he published a paper in the newspapers, which 
afterwards appeared in the February, 1775, number of the 
American Magazine, showing the enervating effect of tea, 
and giving the names of seventeen herbs or vegetables which 
were good substitutes. In the midst of this discussion his 
wife's sister came from Philadelphia on a visit, and brought 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 319 

down some of the prohibited article. She claimed that she 
was a patriot, but saw no good reason why she should not 
drink "old tea" upon which no duty had been paid, and 
"tea she would drink." The good Doctor, always diffident, 
and dreading "a tempest in a tea-pot," quietly submitted. 

When, in 1774, the news reached Lewes that the British 
government had closed the port of Boston, he was one of 
the committee to send help to the distressed inhabitants of 
that city. 

After the Declaration of Independence there was an in- 
crease of the Tory leeling in Sussex County, and those in 
favor of separation from Great Britain were in the minority. 

The following letter throws a great deal of light upon 
conditions prevailing in Sussex County: — 

"Lewes Town, July 30th, 1778. 
"Sir: Inclosed you have a letter from the Rev. Mr. Wilson, solicit- 
ing your interest for the liberty of a certain James Cooper, one of the 
Reffugees from this State, now in your Gaol; the young man, I be- 
lieve, was corrupted by some persons of the disaffected class; but 
they have ever acted so cautious, and ever so true to each other, 
that no positive proof could be had against them. 

"I should be glad that you would not let Mr. Wilson's Letter be 
made public, as it will of consequence create him some enemies, that 
may have it in their power to injure him. Should it be in your power 
and not too much Trouble to obtain liberty for the young man to 
come down, I will pay any expenses for his imprisonment. 
' ' I am Sir Yours 

"Henry Neill. 
"To Col. William Bradford 
"At the London Coffee House 
"Philadelphia." 

Dr. Wilson's Letter. 

"To Mr. William Bradford, and other members of the honourable 
Boird of War in Philadelphia. Favoured by Henry Neill, Col.- 
Lieut. of Sussex. 

"Gentlemen: We are informed that some few of our Sussex 
Tories have fallen into your hands, and are justly confined in Jail, 
where they are much much morq likely to have an Impartial Trial, 
than here, where at least two-thirds of the County, by the Influence, 
Lies, Falsehoods, & base insinuations of your Joshua Fisher, and about 
a score of leading Men, who at that Time, held all Offices and Places 
of Trust in this County, are really disaffected to the American Cause, 
yet, by their numbers will soon be elected to fill their places again; 
so that if this State can do any harm to the Cause of America, by 
betraying the French, our Friends, or any of the Whig Colonists 
trading here, or by assisting, supporting, or encouraging our enemies, 
as well as persecuting forever the Whig Colonies here 'who have borne 



320 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

the burden and heat of the day,' .there are more honors than I can 
now foresee, must come from Tories ruling the Delaware State. 

"To remedy these dangerous evils I can see only 2 plans that 
appear practicable, either to disfranchise the Delaware State, and 
divide it between Maryland and Pennsylvania, which appears more 
necessary, because the State is too weak to bear the expense of its. 
present Government, and also because of its smallness: any conten- 
tion here between a leading Whig and a leading Tory would imme- 
diately divide the whole State into two parties, when Justice and 
Peace would be excluded from the State. 

"The other remedy would only be partial and temporary, i. e.. 
The Congress fixing such Resolves, by such accurate Descriptions 
of Characters as would exclude all Tories and disaffected persons 
from holding any Offices in the State during this Generation at least. 

"This would, indeed, incapacitate a great number from doing the 
highest injuries to the Country, Yet the most artful and dangerous 
Tories who stirred up the rest, and use them as Catspaws, would be 
still at the helm. They have veer'd all around the Compass, give 
the Whigs no positive proof against them, and have secured the 
Tories, to give no Information. 

"The most probable Way to come to the Truth, would seem by 
pardoning some Tory or two on condition of becoming a true Wit- 
ness against the Rest. There is one, Couper Qames), I think, who 
would perhaps turn evidence on these terms. He kept Merchants'" 
accounts formerly for Col. Simon Kollock, a staunch Whig, when 
this unhappy Couper was thought a good Whig, but going to live 
with Philip Kollock, he became such a Tory, as to go voluntarily,, 
with others, to the English. 

"Would you take the trouble to have him sounded apart from the 
rest, whether he would, in order to be restored, & pardoned, & ad- 
mitted to Protection in Col. KoUock's house again, honestly inform 
you who were his advisers to prompt Him to go to the Enemy, whether 
he knows and can prove enough to convict Lawyer Moor, Isaac Smith, 
John Wiltbank, Philip Kollock, Esquires, Peter Robinson, late Sheriff, 
Anderson Parker, Ben. Burton, Esquires, &c &c. 

"If you should find that he will make a good State Evidence, 
perhaps you could send him down in Col. Neill's vessel, who is Lieu- 
tenant of the County, and would take proper Care of Him, that he 
might not be enticed by the Tories. 

"I am, with great respect. Gentlemen, 

" Very much at your Service "Mat. Wilson. 

"Lewes, July 29, 1778." 

Henry Neill, son of John Neill, of Lewes, lawyer, mar- 
ried Mary, daughter, of Col. Simon KoUock. He was made,, 
in September, 1775, Adjutant of the First Delaware Battalion, 
of which David Hall was Colonel. In May, 1778, he was 
elected Lieutenant of the County of Sussex. In June, 1780f 
he was Acting Colonel of the Fourth Delaware Regiment, 
being the second regiment of Delaware in the Continental 
service. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 321 

In 1803 he died, childless. 

His friend, Dr. Wilson, prepared the following inscription, 
which is cut on his tombstone in the Presbyterian grave- 
yard, Lewes := — 

"In memory of Col. Henry Neill who died Nov. 10, 1803, aged 61 
years, who valued independence, who dared, scorning submission to 
a foreign yoke, to force deliverance from the oppressors rod." 

Dr. Wilson died March 31st, 1790. 

Grant for Cool Spring Church. 

September 13, 1737. 
To ye Minister & Congregation of Presbiterians near 
Cold Spring in Sussex for 10 Acres to enclose their Meet'g 
House. 

Fort Cumberland, April 9th, 1757. 
Sir : — We esteem ourselves obligd to you for the kindness shown by 
you & Mrs. Dagworthy to Old Ross &c. &c. 

We are alive here. I have ordered the Volunteers to be informd 
that none are to proceed [torn] this Expedition, but [torn] as Sure 
them for me, and Mr. Ross by the first Occasion will Send them to 
Maidstone. My Complimts to Mrs. Dagworthy. I am 
Your most obt hule Sert. 

Adam Stephen. 

Fort Cumberland, Feby 14th, 1757. 
Sir : — ^John Fraser Complains that Some of the Detachmt from Fort 
Frederick has Carried off a gang of His Horses brought in by the 
Cherokees & taken privately away from them & stabled at Cressops 
plantation untill the Cherokees were gone out of the Way. William 
Ross has a Gray Lame Mare Carried down by the Same party. 

The Cherokees are gone, & their return, in my Opinion [torn]. 
The Catabaws carried home at the Rate of £30 a man among which 
was £20 in Silver & £50 of Wampum & yet disatisfy'd. Fear is the 
strongest bond of an Indian they love & despise. Nothing but 
hard fighting & Success will recover the Indian Interest. 
I am Sir, Yr most Obt huble Serv 

Adam Stephen. 

Sir : — I have made what Enquiry I Could Relating to Mr. Fraziers 
Horses but do not find the Party from & his has taken them they 
Brought an old Lame Horse which was turn'd loose as being Useless 
which very Probably belongs to Mr. Ross & I suppose is Returned, 
all the News we have here is that Lord London Meets the Governors 
from the Differant Province this Day at Philada. the Result it is Prob- 
able we shall heare in a few Weeks. 

Sir : — In Return for your [torn] Inclosed Some English [torn] to 
Pass off an Hour or two, this Dismal Weather, I am &c. 



322 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Sir: — Your Letter of the 11th Inst. I have received & in Answer 
thereto am to acquaint You that the Governor approves of Your Agree- 
ment with the Mason concerning the Building of the Chimnies & plais- 
tering the Officers Barracks, but He says You must not enter into any- 
such Engagement with the Soldiers who are employed as Sawyers, or 
into any with those that profess themselves Carpenters; Such as are 
employed in those Capacities will be considered & have an allowance 
[torn] unless You will enter into a particular Engagement with them 
His Excellency desires You will find them Business on the Allegany 
Mountains for a time or take any other method to bring them to a 
right Understanding. The Governor desires to know how much 
plank Mr. Waugh will want to finish the Soldiers Barracks that are 
already set up & those of ye Officers; & as the Assembly is to meet 
next Monday Sennight His Excellency desires You will as soon as 
possible send him Muster Rolls of the three Companies specifying 
for what time each man first enlisted or has since engaged to serve 
that he might try the same before the House if it shall be thought 
Necessary. I have writ to the Agents & presume they will forthwith 
send up the Cloathing for the Recruits as well as Money to pay the 
several Companies. 

I am Sir Your most humb. Servt 

J. RlDOUT. 

Annapolis, The 13 Jan'y. 1757. 

Sir: — This will be presented by John Linton the Recruit whom 
I mentioned to You in a former Letter. He comes with the Waggon 
& as He is to go by the Way of Elk Ridge 1 have given him a Dollar 
to bear his Expenses to the Fort. He was enlisted the 27th of Jany. 
so for his Board in Town since that time I must [torn] five Shillings 
which with the Bounty [torn] advanced him & the Dollar above men- 
tioned makes £1. IS. 0. to be remitted me by any Opportunity of 
Conveyance that shall offer. 

I am Sir Your most humb. & obed. Servt., 

J. RiDOUT. 

Annapolis, the 1st Feby. 1757. 

Sir : — The Governor desires that those Officers & Men that brought 
William Johnson from Plummer's to Fort Frederick may be part of 
the Detachment that You shall order hither with the Covered Waggon 
for Powder; His Excellency wants to ask them some questions but 
You need not mention it to them. You will let me know by a Line 
who the Persons are. 

I am Sir Your most humb. & obedt. Servt., 

J. RiDOUT. 

Annapolis, the 1st Deer. 1756. 

P. S. — We have an Account that Adl. Hawke has had an Engage- 
ment with the French Fleet & taken & destroyed 7 of theirs with the 
Loss of three of his own Ships. Many Circumstances that are men- 
tioned give us room to believe the Account ought to be depended on. 
We are also told that Bing has shot himself. 

The Governor would not have You take any of Capt. Joshua Beall's 
Men into ye Company till farther Orders. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 323 



PRELUDE. 



Altho Capt Daggworthy is a bad Correspondent And has not 
thought proper to favor me wh a Line tliese six Months nevertheless 
to shew him there is one at Fort Cumberland does not forget the 
many agreable Hours he has spent this time twelve Month whose 
name will be at the Bottom of this Scrawl & wh Capt. Daggworthy 
when he calls back past time may chance to recolect amongst the 
many less Animals in ye Creation to be known to Nature however Sc. 
to throw off the Disguise. Harry Woodward now speaks to you 
Wishing you & Mrs. Daggworthy Health happiness & success in all 
your Undertakings for the Present Year and at the same time cant 
help wishing you up at Fort Cumberland where you could See Tamer- 
lane Exhibited in a very pretty Play-House. And as Mrs. Dagg- 
worthy I am sure woud ask who were the Actors I shall now set them 
down wh the Parts they Acted. 

Tamorlane performed by. . . . Capt. Peachy. 

Bajazet Lieut. Hall. 

Mokeses Mr. Hubbard. 

Lama Mr. Lawson. 

Morvan Mr. Kennedy. 

Stratocles Mr. Peachy. 

Haly Mr. Thompson. 

Prince of Tanais Mr. Brockenbrough. 

The Derveze Mr. De fierre. 

Axalla Humble Servant. 

Omar Mr. Peachys Man. 

Selima my Servant (who Acts very well.) 

Aspasia Myself. 

There was an Occassional Epilogue wrote by Hubbard in which 
my Actor was taken off and spoken by him. 

X. B. — Brockenbrough was so touchd by it so that he will never 
never Act Again. 

^sop was the Farce and De fierre was the fine Lady by wh you 
may judge if it was a Farce or not. I am just Summoned to a Genl 
Court Martial wh obliges me abruptly to Conclude wh my respts to 
Mrs. Dagworthy. 

Your most Obedt Humble Servt., 

H. Woodward. 
Fort Cumberland. 

Annapolis, Septr. 12th, 17SS. 
Sir : — You are hereby directed to repair to Fort Cumberland & 
reassume the Command of the Mary [torn] with Your Co [torn] receive 
Instructions from me for that purpose, or unless the Virginia Troops 
find themselves strong enough & are ordered to march over the Alle- 
gany Hills to annoy the Enemy or construct some place of Defence 
there, in such Case You are to act as shall be judged best for his 
Majesty's Service 

HoRo Sharpe. 

To Captain John Dagworthy. 



324 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

To Captain John Dagworthy. 

[Torn] Apl. 7, 17S7. 
Sir: — The Assembly is now sitting at Baltimore County & I under- 
stand Colo. Stanwick & Governor Sharpe are to have the Command 
of the Forces upon an Expedition to the Ohio which are to be those 
raised in Pennsylvania Virgini to be joined to one Batalion of the 
Royal Americans & the Governor desired me to [torn] an Express 
down as soon as either Daniel or the Indians should arive that he 
might make provision for Encouraging them & such Voluntares as 
shoud join them & I believe it would not be disagreable to him to let 
as many Soldiers [torn] Garrison go Voluntares I have dispatched a 
Messenger to the Governor yesterday who I imagine will Arive Today 
I apprehend by The Governor that he will be up soon in Order to 
have a Fort built at the Old Town, There is an Act. of the Fleet's 
sailing from Britain with the Forces & since I came from Town I 
heard that there had abt 10 or 12 Thousand Men arived at Hailifax 
& 20 Men of War who are to be joined by the Forces from new York 
& New England It's said that there is to be SCO Men raised in Mary- 
land & that the Pennsylvanians have passed a Bill for [torn] 

Your Friend & 

Thos. Cresap. 

To Captain John Dagworthy. 
Sir: — Inclos'd is the whole Instructions I Receiv'd the 23d XJlt. hope 
you'l Lett Corpl. Love come Down to Join Mr. Beall in Charles County, 
Shall use all Endeavours to Raise what men I can while Down & 
Shall be at the fort by the Middle of March at Farthest, hope you'l 
Excuse the sending Barrickman Back Again, As we are in hopes of 
Stopping those person's Deserted. 

I am with all Respect Your Humble Servt 

Alex. Beall. 

P. S. — Have Sent Mrs. Dagworthy A pair of Stockings price 6/6 
if Dont think proper to keep them I will take them Again at my 
Return & as there was no more here shall Endeavour to serve her 
Lower Down. 

Fred Town, Feby 24th, 17S7. 

Sir : — In the Governor's Absence I Received your Letter to him and 
Inclosed, you a Coppy of that part of the Act of Assembly that relates 
to the Affair You Mention'd & to Which I Refer. 

I am. Sir Your Very Humbl Servant 

A , r,^, r T^ , ,^r-n BENJ TASKER. 

Annapolis, 12th of Feby. 17S7. 

R Creek George Town, Feby. 14th, 17S7. 
Sir; — His Excell. Sett out for Philadelphia the Day Before I Gott to 
Annapolis I Apply 'd to Esq. Tasker and he thought it Requisite 
to Raise the Company's Again as Fast as possible, Which he Gave 
the Agent Order's to Lett me have One hundred & Eight pounds 
for that use, he Likewise has sent you A paragraph of the Last Act 
of Assembly, Wherein Directs how we are to proceed in Recruiting, 
we are to Inlist men till the 10th of Aprill, But if the Wise Assembly 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 325 

shall think proper, they Are to be Continued for Six Months Longer, 
No News here, All Freind well, & shall continue at R Creek, till such 
Time as I see or here from you Agreeable to Your Order's, I believe 
that I shall Gett Recruits Very fast I have Inlisted one, and am to 
Meet Several's at Bladenburgh this Week and am Sir your 
Very Humble Servt to Command 

Leut. Colo. Beall. 

To Captain John Dagworthy. 

Fort Cumberland, March 1, 1757. 

Sir: — Pursuant to an order from Governor Dinwiddle, I have sent 
down William Ross and two sons, Trotter & Slater who resided at this 
Garrison ever since the Fort was built — They have behaved honestly 
as far as I know, & have been very serviceable to the Garrison, Slater 
a Butcher & Salter, Trotter as Guide & Labourer. William Ross and 
sons have resided here, ever Since plummer Left old tow [torn] 
have observed the Rules of the Garrison, and has lived upon his stock 
of Cattle having Supplyd us w' Butter & other little things which you 
know to be very necessary & agreeable at Such a distance from the 
Inhabitants. 

Upon a Complaint from Colo. Cressop Sometime ago I had an En- 
quiry made by the officer of this garrison, into the reason of said 
Complaint. Ross can let you see the proceedings. He brought up 
two steers of Cressop's which he could not Easily separate from his 
own Cattle, but immediately informed me of it, and in Cosequence 
of a letter from Cressop I had them killed for the use of the garrison; 
and orderd the Commissary to send Cressop an act. of them & several 
others killed for the same purpose. 

The old man brought up some Sheep of Plummer's which he said 
he did out of friendship to him; and informed the of&cer of it, saying 
plummer told him he should have Payment for them when he came 
up again but William Ross seeing that the place was a thorough fare 
for country people and Indians as they went up & down, thought he 
did a kindness to Mr. Plummer, & meant to oblige him by bringing up 
the sheep with some others which he drove to this Fort, and intended 
to Acct with him for them. 

I inform 'd him of my orders to send him down & the old-fellow 
never thought of moving out of the way and I had none of them Con- 
fined before the party came on. 

It seems to me to be owing to an Old grudge between Ross & 
Cressop; and as you will have his sons in pledge espically I shall take 
it as a favour that you let him go About to do his Business, & make 
Friends. If I imagin'd that he would, or had reason to Attempt as 
Escape, be assurd I would never request the favour. I am obHged 
to you for the news p [torn] Indians were down on the Bran [torn] 
young men, burnt two plantations. 

We are big with hopes [torn] the governors. I offer my [torn] 
Dagworthy and am 

Sir, Your [torn] humble Sert 

Adam Stephen. 

P. S. : — Since writing the Above I am informd that you are in the 
Commission of the peace, and one of the Magistrates to try these 



326 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

people. It is needless to request you to act w ' the discretion which 
is so common & natural to you, in this affair, & weigh the Characters 
of the Evidence if there are any, because the affair will be canvessed, 
and make a great Noise, if the people are long detaind & harassd. 

The lighthouse at Cape Henlopen is supposed to have 
been erected in 1725. The Hon. John Penn, November, 
1763, had two hundred acres of land, or sand, surveyed 
and set aside for the benefit of the lighthouse. The lantern 
or top is said to have been burned by the British during the 
Revolution. 

On the twenty-eighth of July, 1774, Thomas McKean, 
afterwards signer of the Declaration of Independence, made 
an address in Lewes, urging the people to make common 
cause with the Boston people in their stand against the 
imposition of unjust taxation. 

This was after the Boston people had thrown the tea over- 
board. 

In 1779—80 when the British frigate Roebuck was lying 
in the Bay, a number of men were sent ashore to obtain 
supplies. They seized Thomas Fisher, a boy of 17, on his 
father's farm near Lewes, and carried him and a negro 
slave back to the Roebuck, sending word to the parents 
that Thomas and the negro could be ransomed for one hundred 
bullocks. The terms were hastily complied with and Thomas 
was released. 

Jerome Bonaparte was a guest in the old Peter Maull 
house. He had been recalled to France by his brother, 
Napoleon. 

On account of the British blockading the Bay the French 
vessel could not leave. In the meantime a furious storm 
drove the ship ashore on the point of the Cape. Jerome 
with others escaped drowning and he was cared for at the 
Peter Maull house. 

From Watson's Annals. 

Nathiel Lukens, pilot of the "ketch 'James' (whereof Capt. 
James Risbie was owner) was put ashore at Cape Henlopen 
by Ely Lush, Wm. Rawlings, Charles kemarr, Robt. Lindsay, 
peter Goss, mariners. By reason of the bad weather the 
sailors could not get on the Ketch again." February 169 3. 

January 18th, 1733. Great snow at Lewes; ice driven 
ashore by a north-east storm. 



MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 327 

January 8th, 1741. "Our river has been fast some time, 
and we heard from Lewes that 'tis all ice towards the sea as 
far as the eye can reach." 

"At this early period of time (1733), so much had the little 
Lewistown at our southern cape the pre-eminence in female 
tuition, that Thomas Lloyd, the deputy governor, preferred 
to send his younger daughters from Philadelphia to that 
place to finish their education." (Watson's Annals). 

Joshua Fisher, of Lewistown, afterwards of Philadelphia, 
merchant, first tried the quadrant in the bay of Delaware. 

Joshua Fisher, of Lewistown, Delaware, made the first 
known Bay-chart of the Delaware. The one from which 
all our subsequent ones have been copied. It bears the 
imprint of London, 1756. 

1703. The Grand Jury (Philadelphia) present Henry 
Brooks, the Queen's Collector at the Hore-kills, and three 
others,' for raising a great disturbance and riot in the city at 
the dead of night. 

Captain Drew and the De Braak. 

James Drew was commissioned lieutenant in the Royal 
Navy, July 29th, 1775; master and commander, December 
1st, 1787, and took rank as post-captain in 1790. 

He commanded in order, the Echo, Fly, and De Braak, 
sloops-of-war. 

The De Braak was a Dutch national ship detained at 
Falmouth by the Fortune (F. Wooldridge), August 20th, 1795. 

The De Braak was commissioned, 1798, under the com- 
mand of Captain James Drew, and attached to the fleet 
"off the Western Islands." 

The following report was received in London, July, 1798 : — 

"Philadelphia, May 31, 1798 — His Brittanic Majesty's sloop-of-war 
De Braak, Captain Drew, was overset in Old Kiln Roads about 
4 O'clock last Friday afternoon. She was at the time under mainsail 
and reefed topsail, just about to cast anchor, a mile from the light- 
house, her boat alongside, waiting for the Captain, who intended to 
go on shore at Lewes Town; a sudden slew of wind laid her on her 
beam ends; she immediately filled and went down, with Captain 
Drew, his Lieutenant, and thirty-eight officers, seamen, and marines. 

"The rest of the ship's company, about twenty-five, including the 
boatswain, escaped in the boats, and several were taken up by a 
pilot-boat. 

"The De Braak parted with the fleet off the Western Islands in 
chase of a strange sail and was unable to join the convoy. 



328 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"About twenty-five days ago she fell in with and captured a Spanish 
ship from La Plata, bound to Spain, with a very valuable cargo, 
consisting of 200 tons of copper, a quantity of cocoa, &c. The prize 
is arrived in the Delaware. Twelve of the prisoners were lost in the 
sloop-of-war. The surviving Spanish prisoners have been brought 
to Philadelphia and given to the agents of Spain. 

"The crew of the De Braak consisted of eighty- three persons in 
all, about half of whom were saved, including those who were in the 
prize. 

"The officers left alive are the boatswain, a midshipman, and the 
prize-master. 

"This melancholy accident is heightened by the Captain's lady 
being so near as New York, where she was every hour in anxious ex- 
pectation of meeting him. The prize lies at the fort." 

When the De Braak sunk three Spanish prisoners took the 
Captain's trunk and used it as a raft to get ashore. 

Randolph McCracken, great grandson of Gilbert McCracken, 
pilot on the De Braak, let the present rector have the trunk. 
It is in the Sunday-school room of St. Pete.r's church. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 329 



BIBLE RECORDS. 



FOOTCHER. 



Wills, Administrations, Marriages. Kent and Sussex 
Counties, Delaware, 1683-95. 

"William footcher son of William and Mary footcher was 
borne the Tenth day of the moneth called February one 
Thousand Six hundred Seaventy four, five ; 

"Sarah footcher daughter of William and Mary footcher 
was born the thirteenth day of the Second Moneth called 
April One Thousand six hundred Seaventy Seaven ; 

" Elizabeth footcher daughter of William and Mary footcher 
wasf borne the Eight day of the Moneth called February one 
Thousand Six hundred Eighty one, two; 

"Richard footcher son of William and Mary footcher was 
borne the first day of the forth moneth called June one Thou- 
sand six hundred Eighty four ; 

"John footcher son of William and Mary footcher was borne 
the first day of the Second Moneth called April one Thousand 
six hundred Eight Seaven ; 

"Henry footcher son of William and Mary footcher was 
borne the Thirty first day of the ' Eight Moneth called 
October, one Thousand six hundred Eighty nine." 

Judge John Wiltbank departed this life, 1792. 

Mary Wiltbank, wife of John Wiltbank, departed this 
life, 1795. 

Cornelius Wiltbank, son of Judge John and Mary Wilt- 
bank, died November 9th, 1813. 

Ann Wiltbank, wife of Cornelius Wiltbank, departed this 
life April 9th, 1801. 

Esther Wiltbank, wife of Cornelius Wiltbank, departed 
this life November 1st, 1802. 

John Wiltbank, son of Cornelius and Ann Wiltbank, was 
born January 23d, 1795; married Eliza Paynter, A. D. 1817; 
died February 13th, 1830. 

Cornelius Wiltbank, son of John and Mary Wiltbank, 
departed this life November 9th, 1813. 



330 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Ann Hudson, wife of Henry Hudson, and daughter of 
Cornelius and Ann Wiltbank, departed this life January 24th, 
1812. 

Mary Metcalf, wife of Thomas Metcalf, and daughter of 
Cornelius Wiltbank, departed this life October 29th, 1814. 

Thomas Metcalf, son of John and Esther Metcalf, de- 
parted this life November 1st, 1814 (He-survvived his loving 
wife only two weeks). 

Robert Wiltbank, son of Cornelius and Ann Wiltbank, 
departed this life on Sunday, January 22d, 1815, at the house 
of his grandfather. Judge John Wiltbank, "Dover," Dela- 
ware, was buried at the family burial ground on Wednesday, 
January 2Sth, 1815 (at Tower Hill Farm near Lewes). 

John Wiltbank, son of Cornelius and Ann Wiltbank, 
departed this life on Saturday morning, February 13th, 1830, 
age 35 years and 21 days. Sermon delivered by Rev. John 
Mitchell, from Luke 12: 3 7. Buried in family ground near 
Lewes. 

John and Eliza Wiltbank's first son was born September 
5th, 1818, and departed this life fifteenth of the same month. 

Samuel Paynter Wiltbank, son of John and Eliza Wilt- 
bank, was born April 19th, 1820. 

John Cornelius Wiltbank, son of John and Eliza Wilt- 
bank, was born on Tuesday, July ISth, 1823. 

Alfred Stockley Wiltbank, son of John and Eliza Wilt- 
bank, was born on Saturday, September 12th, 1829. 

John Cornelius Wiltbank departed this life September' 9th, 
1829. 

Alfred Stockley Wiltbank and Hannah Richards Wolfe 
were married by Rev. John L. M'Kim, January 28th, 1852. 

Samuel Rowland, John Paynter and Alfred Stockley, 
children of Alfred S. and Hannah R. Wiltbank, all died in 
infancy. 

Frank Comly Wiltbank, son of Alfred and Hannah R. 
Wiltbank, was born July 9th, 1859. 

Alfred Stockley Wiltbank, M. D., son of John and Eliza 
Wiltbank, departed this life August 7th, 1860. 

Comly J. Wiltbank, M.D., departed this life December 23d, 
1886. 

Samuel Paynter, Senr., was born October 20th, 1736. 

Samuel Paynter, son of Samuel Paynter, Senr., was born 
August 25th, 1768. 

Elizabeth Rowland was born December 9th, 1779. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 331 

Samuel Paynter, Junr., and Elizabeth Rowland were 
married by the Rev. James Wiltbank, at the house of Mr. 
Cornelius Wiltbank, on Wednesday, March 16th, 1796, at 4 
o'clock. That and the next day were remarkably stormy 
days, but it is hoped that prudence and economy may render 
the married life a happy one. 

Mary Paynter, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Paynter, 
was born. 

Mary Paynter and Simon K. Wilson, M.D., were married. 

Samuel I. Wilson, son of Simon K. Wilson and Mary 
Paynter, was born July, 1820; died in 1849. 

Mary P. Wilson, wife of Simon K. Wilson, M.D., and 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Paynter, departed this 
life November 12th, 1820. 

Eliza Paynter, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Paynter, 
was born December 8th, 1798; died November 14th, 1857, 
at Lewes, Delaware. 

John Wiltbank and Eliza Paynter were married by the. 
Rev. James Wiltbank, on Thursday, August 7th, 1817. 

Samuel Rowland Paynter, son of Samuel and Elizabeth 
Paynter, was born. 

Sarah Paynter, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Paynter, 
died August 10th, 1820. 

John Parker Paynter, son of Samuel and Elizabeth. 

Alfred Stockley Paynter, son of Samuel and Elizabeth 
Paynter, died, age S years. 

Elizabeth Paynter, wife of Samuel Paynter, departed this 
life November 10th, 1820, aged 40 years. 

Samuel Paynter departed this 'life on October 2d, 1845, in 
the 78th year of his age. 

"With unfeigned regret that we announce the death of 
Ex Governor Samuel Paynter at his residence at the Dracot 
Bridge, Sussex County, Delaware, on the 2nd inst. in the 
78th year of his age." — Delaware Journal, October, 1845. 

Comly I. Wiltbank was baptized by the Rev. Walter 
Franklin at St. Peter's Church, Lewes, Delaware, August 
4th, 1844, making the seventh generation baptized in that 
church, Sponsers his great-grandfather. Ex Governor Payn- 
ter of Delaware and grandmother, Ehza P. Wiltbank. 
He was born May 12th, 1844. 

J. Comly Jones married, September 10th, 1821, by the 
Rev. Mr. Meyer, Mary Mary Hillborn, daughter of Joseph 
and Rachell Roberts. 



332 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Rachell Roberts Jones, daughter of Comly and Mary H. 
Jones, was born May 7th, 1824. 

Samuel Paynter Wiltbank was married to Rachell Roberts 
Jones August 4th, 1842, by the Right Reverend Bishop 
H. M. Onderdonck. 

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank, daughter of Samuel Paynter 
and Rachell Roberts Wiltbank, was born August 1st. 

Died at Philadelphia on the tenth day of June, 1845, J. 
Comly Jones aged 49 years. 

Died on February 23d, 18S0, Charles B. Jones, in the 
seventeenth year of his age. 

Died on June 17th, 1860, Mary R. Jones, in the nine- 
teenth year of her age. 

Died in Philadelphia on August 7th, 1860, Dr. A. S. 
Wiltbank. of Lewes. Delaware. 

William Manlove, Senior, was born December 2Sth, 1691. 
William Manlove departed this life on the fifteenth day of 
March in ye afternoon, about one hour before sun setting 
A. D. 1761. (William Manlove. His book bought in Phila- 
delphia in ye year 1729. The price of this book is £1. IS. 0.) 

Ruth Manlove departed this life the fifth day of April, 
1746. 

Sarah Masten, the wife of William Masten, departed this 
life February 27th, about one o'clock in the afternoon, 
1776. 

Mary Mason, the wife of Joseph Mason, departed this life 
November Sth, about one o'clock in the afternoon, 1779. 

The ages of the children of William Manlove and Mary, 
his wife: 

Nathaniel Manlove was born the sixth day of January, 
1717, and departed this life April 27th, 1729. 

WilHam Manlove, Jr., was born April 29th, 1721, about 
midnight. 

Mary Manlove was born the twenty-seventh day of October, 
1723, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Ruth Manlove was born December 10th, 1726, about 
11 o'clock in the evening. 

Sarah Manlove was born September 28th, 1830, about 8 
o'clock at night. 

Edmund Bibbe was married to his wife, Mary, October 1st, 
1709. 

William Manlove was married to his .wife, Mary, December 
6th, 1716. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 333 

Mary Manlove, daughter of Mark Manlove and Ann, his 
wife, was born April 18th, 1712. 

Elizabet Manlove, daughter of Mark Manlove and Ann, 
his wife, was bom October 7th, 1716. 

Thomas Manlove, son of Mark Manlove and Ann, his wife, 
was born June 27th, 1714. 

Esther Bibbe was born November 16th, 1710. 

Matthew Bibbe was born January 19th, 17i|-. 

Mary, wife of William Manlove, above, departed this life 
December ye 1st day about 5 o'clock in the afternoon Anno. 
Dom. 1757. 

John Masson Brown was born August ye 5, 1728, about 
two o'clock in the afternoon. 

Sarah Chipman was born the thirtieth day of October, 
A. D. 1757. 

William Shaw departed this life the twenty-fifth day of 
May, A. D. 1758. 

Elizabeth Polk, daughter of Ephriam and Mary Polk, was 
born the twenty-ninth day of March, 1739. 

William Borroughs, the son of John Borroughs & Ester 
Borroughs, was born the second day of January, l73f. 

The above William Borroughs departed this life on the 
fourteenth day of April, 1797. 

Esther Borroughs, the daughter of John and Esther 
Borroughs, was born the eighth day of January, 1739 
or 40. 

William Masten, the son of W. M. Masten and Sarah, his 
wife, was born the seventh day of February, about 10 o'clock 
in the morning, A. D. 17S|-. 

Thomas Broxson was born in the year 1736 on the 27th 
December. 

Joseph Broxson born, 1741, on the seventeenth of No- 
vember. 

An account of the birth of the children of Joseph Mason 
and Mary, his wife: 

Sarah was born April 7th, 1744; 

Mary was born March 13th, 1748; 

Jacob was born December 19th, 1754; 

Charles and Elias were born March 24th, 1760; 

Joseph was born December 24th, 1763, and died April 16th, 
1851. Age 57 years and 4 months. 

William Masten, son of John Masten and Hannah, his wife, 
was born January ISth, 1711. 



334 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

John Masten departed this life December, twentieth day, 
1771. 

William Masten, son of William Masten and Sarah, his 
wife, was born February, seventh day, 1751. 

Mary Masten was born November 17th, 1754; 

Sarah Masten was born January 2Sth, 1756; 

Deborah Masten was born October 8th, 1760; 

John Masten was born November 1st, 1763 ; 

David Masten was born February 6th, 1767. 

Charles Mason and Catherine Stayton, his wife, were mar- 
ried May 6th, 1815. 

Jacob Mason, son of Charles Mason and Catherine, his 
wife, was born April 20th, 1816. 

James L., son of Charles Mason and Catherine, his wife, 
was born April 1st, 1818. 

William S., son of Charles and Catherine Mason, was born 
October 16th, 1821. 

Joseph H., son of Charles and Catherine Mason, was born 
February 20th, 1823. 

Catherine, only daughter of Charles and Catherine Mason, 
was born July 4th, 1830. 

William S. Mason departed this life October, 1876. 

James H. Mason departed this life , 1852. 

An account of the times of the births of the children of 
Charles Mason and Betty, his wife: 

Mary was born upon Sunday, the eleventh day of May, 
1783. 

Rachell was born upon Sunday, the thirty- first day of 
October, 1784. 

Jacob was born upon Friday, the twenty-eighth day of 
December, 1786. 

Charles was born on Saturday, the thirteenth day of 
September, 1788. 

The above Betty Mason departed this life upon Saturday, 
the nineteenth day of November, about 8 o'clock in the 
morning, 1791. 

The above Charles Mason, Senior, departed this life upon 
Sunday, the thirtieth day of September, 1810, being aged 
SO years, 6 months and 6 days. 

The above Jacob, son of Charles and Elizabeth Mason, 
departed this life January 20th, 1825. 

Charles, Junior, son of Charles and Elizabeth Mason, de- 
parted this life August 21st, 1858. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 335 

Elias Mason was married to Magdelan Owens on the 
sixth day of March, 1783. 

The births of the children of Ehas Mason and Magdelan, 
his wife, are as follows: 

Joseph was born October 23d, 1785 ; 

Elias was born November 30th, 1787 ; 

Elizabeth was born January 28th, 1790. 

The above Elias Mason, Senr., departed this life December 
17th, 1793. 

Stephen Sturgis was married to Sally Mason October 12th, 
1807. 

The above Sarah Mason departed this life June 9th, 1847. 

An account of the times of the births of the children of 
George CuUen and Sarah, his wife, is as follows, vizi: 
John Cullen was born June 7th, 176 — ; 
Charles Mason Cullen was born January 9th, 176 — ; 
Piercy Cullen was born September 17th, 1773; 
Sarah Cullen was born September 14th, 1 — ; 

Jonathan Cullen was born 31st, 17 — . 

I I Piercy Cullen departed this life May 24th, 178 — . 

Sarah Cullen, younger, departed this life December 8th, 
1794. 

The above named Charles M. Cullen was married to Eliza- 
beth Dickerson on the twenty-sixth day of January, 1797. 

Elisha D. Cullen, son of the abovenamed, Charles and 
Elizabeth, his wife, was born April 23d, 1799. 

An account of the children of Thomas Kellam and Mary 
Mason, his wife: — 

Thomas Kellam and Mary Mason were married the fifteenth 
day of December, 1802. 

Elizabeth W. Kellam was born the twenty-fourth day of 
April, 1804. 

Joseph Mason and Mary, his wife, were married the twen- 
tieth day of November, 1807. 

" Qames W. Mason M.D. one among the decendants of those 
whose births and marriages are recorded in this book will be 38 years 
of age the twenty-seventh day of this present month, February, 183S. 

"Cincinnati Ohio 
"February 5th, 183S. 
"The Widow Cullen gave me this book when I was in Lewistown 
Del in ye year 1832. J. M. M.) 

"James W. Mason departed this life (margin destroyed) Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, at 7 o'clock in the morning. 



336 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

' ' This bible was presented to me by Sarah Mason widow of Joseph 
Mason (the younger) : she resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she 
died April 14, 1843, age 74. 

"Joseph Mason, her husband, died April 16th 1821, aged 57 years. 

"James W. Mason 
"Son of Charles Jr." 
Inscription of fly page of Bible: — 

"Printed & Sold by Richard Ware at ye Bible & Sun in. 
Amen Corner." 

Marriages. 

Thomas H. Carpentei, Margaret M. Staton; March 4th,. 
1826; Philadelphia. 

Thomas H. Carpenter, Cathai ne J^". Marshall; Septem- 
ber 3d, 1850; Lewes. 

Births. 

Thomas Howard Carpenter, son of Joseph and Mary Car- 
penter, born March 28th, 1804, Lewes. 

Margaret ;M. Staton, daughter of Warrington and Hester 
Stanton, bom Accomac County, Virginia, April 12th, 1806. 

Mary Quinn, daughter of Thomas H. and Margaret Car- 
penter, born April 7th, 1827, Philadelphia. 

Thomas Howard, son of Thomas H. and Margaret Car- 
penter, born December 10th, 1829, Philadelphia. 

James Henry, son of Thomas H. and Margaret Carpenter,, 
born October 9th, 1838, Lewes. 

John Dorman, son of Samuel Dorman and Elizabeth 
Staton, born June 24th, 1818, Baltimore. 

Louis Marshall Carpenter, son of Thomas H. and Cather- 
ine F. Carpenter, was born in St. Louis, Mo., September 
24th, 1863. 

Mary Quinn Carpenter, daughter of Thomas H. and Cather- 
ine F. Carpenter, was bom August 26th, 1861. 

Annie Eliza Carpenter was bom St. Louis, Mo., Septem- 
ber 24th, 1863, daughter of Thomas H. and Catherine F. 
Carpenter. 

Thomas H. Carpenter, son of Thomas H. and Catherine 
F. Carpenter, was born St. Louis, Mo., August 19th, 1866. 

James Carpenter was bom May ISth, 1775. 

Mary Dean was born January 16th, 1781. 

Comfort H., married a Brown, Philadelphia, daughter of 
James and Mary Carpenter, was bom June 12th, 1799. 

Nancy, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
January 28th, 1801; died March 24th, 1808; age 7 years,. 
1 month, 26 days. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 337 

Elizabeth, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was 
born November 13th, 1802. 

Thomas H., son of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
March 28th, 1804. 

Robert Howard, son of James and Mary Carpenter, was 
born April 18th, 1806; died September 14th, 1808; age 2 
years, S months, 16 days. 

Mary Rodgers, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, 
was bom February 13th, 1808; died December 24th, 1842; 
age 34 years, 10 months, 11 days. 

John Dean, son of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
April 13th, 1810; lived in Philadelphia; died, age 49 years, 
4 months, 18 days. 

Jane, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
July 8th, 1812; died, age 34 years, 11 months, 17 days. 

Lydia, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
June 28th, 1815. Married a Conwell. 

Elizabeth, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was 
born January 24th, 1818. 

James, son of James and Mary Carpenter, was born August 
ISth, 1820; died February 2Sth, 1842, age 21 years, 6 months, 
10 days; pilot. 

Margaret, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, was 
born April 2d, 1822. Married H. Long. 

Benjamin, son of James and Mary Carpenter, was born 
September 22d, 1825; emigrated to South; married, and 
supposed killed on railroad. 

Marriages. 
James Carpenter and Mary Dean were married February 

15th, 1798. _ 

Deaths. 

Nancy, daughter of James and Mary, died March 24th, 
1808, age 7 years, 1 month, 26 days. 

Robert Howard, son of James and Mary, died September 
14th, 1808; age 2 years, 5 months, 16 days. 

James, son of James and Mary, died February 2Sth, 1842; 
.age 21 years, 6 months and 10 days; pilot. 

Mary Rodgers, daughter of James and Mary, died De- 
cember 24th, 1842; age 34 years, 10 months, 11 days. 

Jane Sweeney, daughter of James and Mary Sweeney, 
departed June 25th, 1847; age 34 years, 11 months, 18 days. 

Thomas H., son of James and Mary, departed May 20th, 
1858; age 54 years, 1 month, 32 days. 



338 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Mary, wife of James Carpenter, departed July 3d, 1858; 
age 77 years, S months, 17 days. 

John Dean, son of James and Mary Carpenter, died Sep- 
tember 1, 1859; age 49 years, 4 months and 18 days; lived 
in Philadelphia. 

Lydia Coverdale, daughter of James and Mary Carpenter, 
died December 15th, 18S9; age 44 years, 5 months, 17 days. 

James Carpenter, departed January 7th, 1861; age 85 
years, 7 months, 22 days. 

James H. Carpenter, son of Thomas H. and Margaret Car- 
penter, died at Corning, Arkansas, November 13th, 1877. 

Mary Q. Marshall, wife of J. A. Marshall, daughter of T. H. 
and Margaret Carpenter, died January 16th, 1886, Lewes, Del. 

Catherine F. Carpenter, wife of Thomas H. Carpenter, 
and daughter of D. J. and Eliza A. Marshall, died June 29th, 
1869; age 33 years, 6 months, 3 days. 

[Inscriptions on Tombstones in St. Peter's Church Yard, 
Lewes, Delaware.] 

Margaret Huling, widow of James Ruling, died February 
16th, 1707, in the 76th year of her age. 

Daughter of Margaret Huling, February 1st, 1708, in the 
eighth year of her age. 

Jacob Kollock, died March 30th, 1760, aged 63. 

Mary, the late wife of Jacob Kollock, died September 
30th, 1741, aged 95 years. 

In memory of Mr. Rives Holt, Esq., who departed this 
life May 8th, 1765, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. 

Here lieth interred the body of Ryves Holt, Jr., who de- 
parted this life March 17th, 1760. In the twenty-second 
year of his age. 

In the memory of Daniel Nunez, Esq., who departed this 
life the twenty-second day of June in (Stone broken) fourth 
year of his age. 

In memory of Mary, the wife of Daniel Nunez, who de- 
parted this life October 24th, 1746, aged 53 years. 

Here lies interred Sarah, the late wife of Mr. Reese Wolfe, 
who departed this life January 15th, 1771, aged 33 years, 
8 months and 1 day. Also infant, Daniel Nunez AVolfe, son 
of Sarah and Reese. 

In memory of Hens Octs son of Daniel Nunez, who died 
July 27th, 1753, aged 21 years. 

In memory of Daniel Nunez, Esq., who departed this 
life May 28th, 1775, in the forty-fifth year of his age. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 339 

Susanna, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Kollock, died 
ye 8th of October in the sixteenth year of her age. 

In memory of Moses, son of Daniel and Mary Nunez, who 
departed this life February 24th, 1744, aged 23 years. 

In memory of Esther, daughter of Daniel Nunez and 
Dianna, his wife, died January 8th, 1763, in the sixteenth 
year of her age. 

Mary Becket, wife of the Rev. William Becket, departed 
this life August ISth, 1732, aged 46 years. 

William Byron, born in Malta, naturalized in Boston, 
October 18th, 1849, died. 

Henry F., son of the late Henry G. and Mary A. Dearborn, 
of Salem, Mass., died on U. S. Ship Saratoga, July 4th, 1863, 
aged 18 years. 

Sarah H. Paynter, died September 19th, 1829, aged 55 
years, 9 months, 23 days. 

James J., son of William and Jane Paynter, died April 
19th, 1836, aged 37 years. 

Mary S. Paynter, died September ISth, 1830, aged 21 
years, 9 months, 3 days. 

Albert J. Paynter, died June 10th, 1828, aged 28 years, 
6 months, 15 days. 

Jane, wife of William Paynter, died August 10th, 1813, 
aged 30 years, 9 months, 20 days. 

William Paynter, died March 19th, 1845, aged 71 years, 
1 month, 25 days. 

Elizabeth Jacobs, died December 24th, 1783, in the 
twentieth year of her age. 

Albert Jacobs, died March 4th, 1786, in the twenty-eighth 
year of his age. 

Thomas Truxton, son of William and Elizabeth Truxton, 
died March 9th, 1861; born May 17th, 1802. 

Ann Green, departed this life June 10th, 1830, aged 23 
years, 5 months, 15 days. 

Jane Eliza Green, departed this life December 15th, 1829, 
aged 2 years and 3 days. 

Jane Paynter, departed this life December 9th, 1832, aged 
27 years, 9 months and 2 days. 

Jane C. Thompson, daughter of John M. and Sarah 
Thompson, departed this life October 11th, 1813, aged 13 
months. 

James, son of John M. and Sarah Thompson, departed 
this life October 18th, 1845, aged 5 years, 5 months. 



340 some records of sussex county. 

Marriages. 

Thomas R. Norman and Miriam Bennett were married Tune 
7th, 1798. 

Thomas R. Norman, son of John and Anne Norman, was 
born October 22d, 1774. 

Mariam Bennett, daughter of Pernal and Mariam Bennett, 
was born February 20th, 1779. 

John B., son of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, was born 
November 18th, 1799. 

Mills R., son of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, was 
born August 4th, 1801. 

Joshua L., son of Thomas and Mariam Norman, was born 
December 10th, 1803. 

Patience, daughter of Thomas and Mariam Norman, was 
born February 20th, 1806. 

Annes, daughter of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman was 
born September 30th, 1808. 

Eliza, daughter of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, was 
born September 22d, 1810. 

Mary, daughter of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, was 
born April 8th, 1813. 

Purnal Norman, son of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, 
was born January 8th, 1816. 

Mary Norman, daughter of Thomas R. and Mariam Nor- 
man, was born April 29th, 1818. 

Thomas L. Judge Norman, son of Thomas R. and 
Mariam Norman, was born March 18th, 1821. 

Mary, daughter of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, died 
September 13th, 1814. 

Thomas L. Judge, son of Thomas R. and Mariam Norman, 
died July 11th, 1823. 

Thomas R. Norman died March 27th, 1863. 

Mariam B. Norman, died September 27th, 1857. 

George Orton, son of William and Hannah Orton, died 
2-S-1830. 

Johri Bennett Norman died 9-24-1853. 

William Shankland, son of Mills and Sarah Shankland, was 
born October 10th, 1768. 

William and Patience Shankland were married October 
6th, 1789. 

William Shankland died October 21st, 1819, aged 51 years 
and 11 days. 

Patience, the daughter of Rhoads and Ann Shankland, was 
born January 11th, A. D. 1771. 




MRS. ANN ELIZA MARSHALL, 
Aged 96. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 341 

Patience Shankland, the wife of William Shankland, died 
September 20th, 1790. Born of this marriage one daughter, 
Ann May, September 7th, 1790. 

Ann May, daughter of William and Patience Shankland, 
■n-as married to John H. Burton, November 30th, 1808. 

John H. Burton died January ISth, 1822. 

Ann May Burton and Dr. Joseph Marsh were married 
August 28th, 1822. 

Ann May Marsh died April 12th, 1847, aged 57 years, 7 
months, S days. 

ANN MAY'S CHILDREN. 

Burton's. 
William Shankland Burton, born January ISth, 1810. 

Born. Died. 

Mary Ann, Feb. 3d, 1812— Sept. 3d, 1812. 

Eliza Ann, Feb. 20th, 1814— 

Theophilus May 8th, 1816 — June 22d, 1825. 

Caroline, Aug. 9th, 1818 — 

Mary Vaughan, Nov. 22d, 1820 — Dec. 21st, 1822. 

Marsh's. 

James P. W. Marsh, born August 23d, 1823. 

John A., born June 29th, 1825. 

Sarah Ann May, born August 23d, 1829. 

Nehemiah MauU, son of John Maull II. & Mary Marsh 
married 1st, Mary Keen; 2d. Mary Marrott. 

Issue by second wife: Jane, born 1791; Ann Jane, born 
1796; Margaret and Hannah. 

Nehemiah died October 23d, 1817. 

John Maull his Bible brought from Londen by Capt. 
Budden. 

John Maull born November 28, 1714. 

Mary Field, born August 1, 1719. 

John Maull and Mary Field were married October 12, 1736. 

Issue: 

Nehemiah, born October 15th, 1737. 

Elizabeth, born November 27th, 1739, died June 3d, 1753; 
John, bom October 9th, 1742; 

James, born October 3d, 1744, married Jane Moulder, 
October 16th, 1766; 



342 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Henry, born April 9th, 1747, died August 9th, 1748; 

Mary, May 4th, 1749; 

William, born May 6th, 1752. 

John Maull, Senr., died July 27th, 1753. 

Mary Field, widow of John Maull, Senr., married Luke 
Shields. 

Peter Maull, son of John Maull and Mary Marsh, his wife, 
was born March 29th, 1773, married Mary Allen, daughter 
of Moses Allen; Mary Allen was born August 4th, 1774. 

Issue: 

Mary born August 26th, 1795; 

Joseph born September 15th, 1797. 

Eliza born November 21st, 1799; 

Jane born January 16th, 1803; 

Peter born September 27th, 1804; 

Margaret born October 26th, 1806; 

Hetty born September 11th, 1809; 

Lydia Marsh born November 6th, 1811 ; 

Matilda born May 25th, 1814. 

Nehemiah Maull, son of John Maull and Mary Field, his 

wife, was born October I5th, 1737; married Mary Moulder 

March 19th, 1763 

Issue: 

John, born August 23d, 1764, died October 8th, 1765; 

Robert, born July 19th, 1766. 

Elizabeth, born August 1st, 1768. 

Mary, born September 6th, 1770; 

Nehemiah, born February 9th, 1774; 

Rachel born ; 

William, born August 10th, 1778. 

James Maull, son of John Maull and Mary Field, his wife, 
was born October 3d, 1744; married Jane Moulder October 
16th, 1766. 

John Maull II., born October 9th, 1742; 

Mary Marsh, daughter of Peter Marsh and Esther, his 
wife, was born December 7th, 1752; 

John Maull and Mary Marsh were mairried March 24th, 1768. 

Issue: 

Peter, born April 9th, 1769, died August 11th, 1771; 
Peter Marsh, born April 10th, 1771; 
Peter, born March 29th, 1773; 



BIBLE RECORDS. 343 

John III., born February 22d, 1775, died October 9th, 
1843; 

Nehemiah, born April — , 1777; 
Samuel, born April 10th, 1779; 
Hetty, September 2Sth, 1783. 
John Maull III., married Sarah 

Issue: 

James R., born October 3d, 1797; 

Dedrouh, born January 14th, 1800; 

John IV., born September 25th, 1802, died November 
ISth, 1842; 

Samuel, born April 22d, 1805; 

William Stette, September 29th, 1807. 

WiUiam Maull, born May 6th, 1752. 

William Maull and Leah Burton were married December 
21st, 1777. 

Hetty daughter of Wilham and Leah Maull born , 

1778; 

Catherine, born October 23d, 1779, married William Mar- 
shall. 

Henry, son of John Maull, II., and Mary Marsh, his wife, 
was born September 25th, 1783; 

Mary Bedford Webb, daughter of Jacob and Hannah 
Thompson Webb, was born at New Castle, Del., December 
25th, 1778; 

Henry Maull and Mary Bedford Webb were married De- 
cember 19th, 1804. 

Issue: 

Hetty, born November 10th, 1806; 
Charles, bom November 22d, 1808; 
Henry, born November 30th, 1811; 
Edward, born September 22d, 1813; 
George, born December 23d, 1815; 
John, born December 10th, 1817; 
Hannah, born September 11th, 1819; 
Mary Ann W., born October 17th, 1821; 
Sarah R., born August 21st, 1823; 
Deborah, born Octolper 10th, 1825; 
Maria Louisa, born October 10th, 1827; , 

: William, born February 5th, 1829. , 



344 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

From the Clowes Bible 
1783. Catherine Clowes within mentioned, now the widow 
of John Young has but one child living (viz) John Young 
born 28 July 1772. 

Mary Clowes within mentioned, now the wife of John K. 
Dorman, has living four children (viz) 3 boys and 1 girl. Ger- 
hardus Dorman born 23d of Aug. 1772, Nehemiah born 
31 July, 1774, Elizabeth Dorman born 29 July 1776, John 
Dorman born 2 2d May 1779. 

Meirs Clarke was married to Aletta Clowes in the year 1785. 
Meirs Clarke was born the 2 of May in the year 1761. Mary 
Clarke daughter of Miers & Aletta Clarke was born August 
28 about 3 Oclock in the afternoon, on Sunday in the 
year 1786; was Baptized by the Rev. Sydenham Thorne. 
Miers Clarke departed this life December 17, 1810. 

1792, May 9, Wednesday about 9 oClock was born Sarah, 
daughter of Miers Clarke and Aletta, his wife. 

Sept. 7, 1758, John Clowes, Jr., was married to Mary 
Draper by the Rev. Matthias Harris at John Spencer's Esq., 
about 1 in the afternoon. Mary Draper, daughter of Isaac 
& Sarah Draper, was born the 10th day of November, 1739. 

On frayday the 17th day of Aug. anno Domi. 1759 Be- 
tween the Hours of 12 & 1 in the morning was born Sarah 
Clowes Daughter to John & Mary Clowes and was Baptized 
Munday Privately by the Reverend Matthias Harris. On 
thursday the 1st day of July 1761 about 2 Oclock in the 
afternoon she was Siezed with a choaking fitt which ended 
with her life in about 9 or 10 hours afterwards and she was 
buried at John Havelaves on Saturday following. 

1808, May 12th, at 4 Oclock in the afternoon, James 
Walker was married to Mary Clarke by Revd. Mr. William 
Hickman. 

1794, Sept. 10, on Wednesday about 9 o'clock at night 
was born Hannah daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife. 

1798, Oct. 24, on tuesday was born Elizabeth, about 11 
in the morning. Daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife. 

1800, July 18, about 5 in the morning, on Friday, was 
born Lidia, Daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife. 

1803, febbruary the 1st, about 2 in the afternoon, was born, 
tuesday. Ester Daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife. 

1805, febbruary 6th, on Wednesday morning about 1 
o'clock was born Anna, Daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta 
his wife. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 345 

1807, April 30, between 12 in the morning, was born Aletta, 
Daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife. 

Mary Clowes Died the 6th of August, 1813, aged 73 years, 
8 months, & 26 days. 

1809, Aug. 16, on Monday, was born James Miers Walker, 
son of James & Mary Walker. He died March 10, aged 27 
years, 4 months, 8 days. 

1815, Joanna Truitt March 17, on Friday, Daughter to 
John and Sarah Truit. 

Sarah Pinner daughter of Miers Clarke and Aletta his wife 
died in North Carolina Jan. 3, 1871. 

1733, September 16th, at 5 in the morning, their third 
son David Clowes was bom at Lewes and Christened there 
by Mr. Beckett 28 April, 1734. His sponsors were Mr. Ryves 
Clowes &"Mrs. Comfort Clowes. 

1736, July 9th, at 9 in the morning, Catharine Clowes, 
second daughter of John & Mary Clowes, was bom at Lewes 
aforesaid & there Christened by the aforesaid Revd Wm 
Beckett on the Sth of Sept. following. Her sponsors were 
Mr. Daniel Nunez, Mrs. Mary Nunez & Mrs. Eliza Price. 

1737, Dec. 31st; at 6 in the evening, their fourth son, 
Samuel Clowes, was born at Lewes & there Christened by 
Mr. Beckett on the 5th of March following. His sponsors 
were Mr. Simon KoUock, Mr. Edward Naws & Mrs. Comfort 
KoUock. He lived untill the 19th March, 1758, on which 
day being about 9 in the morning he Dyed much regretted 
by his friends. He was buried at Broad Kill in the burying 
ground of his Mother's relations there. 

On Monday the 22d of March, 1762, between one and two 
in the afternoon was born Samuel Clowes, son to John and 
Mary Clowes, and Baptized on Saturday, the second of Oc- 
tober, following, by the Rev. Matthias Harris at Pilot Town. 

On Sunday, the 7th of October, 1764, at 2 Oclock in the 
afternoon, was born John Clowes, son to John & Mary Clowes, 
and was Baptized on Sunday the 29th of September, 1765, 
at St. Georges Chappel by the Rev. Matthias Harris, and on 
Sunday the 21st of September, 1766, departed this life at 
half after four in the afternoon with a flux of four days' 
continuance. 

1767, on Thursday, the 7th of Aprill, at half after nine in 
the morning, was born Aletta Clowes, Daughter to John 
& Mary Clowes, and was Baptized on Wednesday, the 13 
of May, at home by the Rev. Matthias Harris. 



346 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

"He Baptized 85 Children here this day 46 girls & 29 boys." 

1769, On Monday, the 12th of June, at half after eight 

in the morning, was born Sarah Clowes, Daughter to John 

& Mary Clowes, and on Monday, the 18 of Sept., following, 

was Baptized by Rev. John Andrews. 

1771, on Tuesday, the 16 day of July, at eight in the morn- 
ing, was born John Clowes, son to John & Mary Clowes, 
and on Monday, the 5 of August, following, was Baptized 
by the Rev. John Lyons; and the next day 'at yi after one 
in the afternoon it pleased God to take his soul, and on the 
7th inst. his body was intered in the Vault at John Heavcloe's. 

1780, Nov. 21, their first son, Samuel, was lost in Delaware 
Bay in a violent storm, wind S. E., together with all the others 
and the vessel. Heard on the 3d of June following that he 
was buried on Murder Kill Beach, and on diging down to 
the body believe it to be the remains. 

1772, On Thursday, the 20th of Aug., at K after three in 
the afternoon was born Isaac Clowes, son to John & Mary 
Clowes, and was Baptized by the Rev. John Lyon the 28 of 
Nov. following. 

177S, Thursday, 2d day of February, at Twelve Oclock 
was born Peter Clowes, son to John & Mary Clowes, & on the 
29th of May following was Baptized by the Rev. Mr. Samuel 
Tingle at our own house. He died with a bilious fever leaving 
one son Ezekiel Williams Clowes. 

1777, Friday, Sept. 7, at 1 Oclock in the morning, was 
born John Clowes, son to John & Mary Clowes, & was Bap- 
tized by the Rev. Samuel Tinley on Saturday, May 28, 1778, 
at our own home. The reason why he was so long unbaptized 
was the times. Toryism prevailed & it was dangerous to go 
to church & the Parson seldom called on us. 

1780, Friday, May 19, at 11 Oclock in the morning, was 
born Mary Clowes, Daughter to John & Mary Clowes, and 
was Baptized by the Rev. Samuel Tinley on Saturday, the 
26 of August, at our own house, myself from home. July 
17, 1781, she was taken with a purgeing which continued 
till the 3d of September when she gave up the Gost. On 
the 4th her remains was buried in the Vault. 

1784, January 27, Our third son, John, left this life of trial 
& probation of a malignant quencey or the putrid ulcerous 
sore throat, of only three days continuance. On the 29th 
we laid his remains in the Vault, in extreme cold. 

1789, December 9, their 2d Daughter, Sarah, wife to John 
Clarke, died the 4th day of her sickness, on Wednesday, 



BIBLE RECORDS. 347 

at 10 Oclock in the morning, with a violent head plurasy or 
inflamation of the brain; 11th we laid her in the ground at 
the south end of the Vault. Mr. Wilson preached her funeral 
the 14th. Aged 20 years & 6 months lacking 3 days. Left 
2 children. 

• Printed and Sold by Richard Ware at ye Bible & Sun 
in Amen Corner. Just Published fitted to Bind up with all 
sorts of House Bibles a Brief Concordance for the more 
easy finding out of the useful Places therein Contained, 
by I. Downame B. D. [No Date]. 

Anno Domini, 1727, August 2Sth, at S afternoon, John 
Clowes was married unto Mary his wife at Lewes Town, 
in the County of Sussex on Delaware, by the Rev. William 
Beckett, Missionary from the Society for Propagating the 
Gospel. 

1728, June 28th, at 4 in the morning William Clowes, 
eldest son of them, the said John & Mary, was born at Broad 
Kill, in the aforesaid County of Sussex, and was christened 
by the abovesaid Missionary Beckett, privately at Lewes 
Town, on the 28th Aug. following. Said Wm. Beckett, Jona- 
than Bayley, Jr, & Mrs Becket his sponsors. 

1730, November Sth, at 11 in the morning John Clowes, 
their second son, was born at Lewes Town, and there christ- 
ened by the said Mr. Beckett the 11th December following. 
His sponsors were Mr. Ryves Holt, Mr. John Welbor & Mrs. 
Holt. 

1732, August 28th, at 1 in the morning their first daughter, 
AUetta Clowes, was born at Lewes Town, & on the Sth Sep- 
tember following she was Christened by Sd Mr. Beckett 
privately (being very ill) & on the 6th inst. at 8 in the morning 
she Dyed & was buried in the Church yard at Lewes. 

1739-40, February the 7th, at S in the morning, their 
third Daughter, Mary Clowes, was born at Lewes & there 
Christened by Mr. Beckett, on the 27th of April following. 
Her sponsors were Mr. Cornelius Wiltbank Mrs. Margaret 
Kollock, & Mrs. Hester Philips. 

1742, May 19th, at 7 in the morning, their fourth Daughter, 
Lidia Clowes, was born at Lewes, & there Christened by Mr. 
Beckett on the first of August following. Her Sponsors were 
Mr. Ryves Holt, Mrs. Catherine Holt & Mrs. Mary Nunez. 

1747-8, March 12, at 10 in the morning, their fifth son, 
Gerhardus Clowes, was born at Parktown on the Broad Kill, 
in Sd County of Sussex, and was Christened by .the Rev. 



348 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Mr. Usher, a Missionary at Lewes, on the 18th September 
following. His sponsors were the said Mr. Usher, Mr. Daniel 
Nunez & his own Mother. 

1766, Oct. 26th, their eldest son, William, departed this 
life of a plurafie. He was Interred at Eliza Staytons at 
Broad Kill, where his former wife was buried. 

1768, March 19, their son, Gerhardus, perished to Death 
in a Most Violent Storm of Snow on Apoquimini Creek, on 
Delaware River, being Drove in a Vessel there, & was there 
Desently Buried in an old burying ground Much lamented 
by his friends. 

1766, Oct. 26, the foregoing William Clowes, died of a 
pluracy. He left 4 Children, Two by each Wife: — 1st, Cathe- 
rine, born ; 2d, Mary, born ; 3d, Lydia, born 15 

Nov., 1762; 4th, John, bom 18th March, 1765. 

1770, June 18, John Clowes, the second son mentioned in 
the foregoing Catalogue of Births, got this old Bible new 
Bound at Philadelphia, and Proposeth to enter hereunder 
the famely Deaths till God shall call him hence. 

1769, April 24th, at 12 oClock in the day, John Clowes,,, 
esq., father of the forementioned, departed this Life in the 
ninth day of a plurasie, aged sixty six years and nine days; 
the Corps was laid in an open grave the 27th inst. and on the 
Sth of June was Intered in a New Vault built since his 
death at Mr. Heavelo's Landing. Mr. Andrews preached 
his funeral. 

1770, May 25, at 9 oClock in the morning, David Clowes 
departed this Life of a disorder that had raged on him near 
four years, and on the 27 inst was Intered in the aforesaid 
Vault. Mr. Lyons preached his funeral sermon. He left 
only one child, a daughter; she was bom at Nanticoke, 22d 
day of April 1767, 1783, the 9th day, the above Hannah 
died of a quency at 12 last night and was intered in sd vault. 

1781, Nov. 25, on Sunday, at 3 in the morning, Lydia 
Clowes, the wife of Lot Clark, departed this Life of a Nervers 
Fevor; and on the 27th her Remains was laid in the Vault. 
On the 4th of Dec. Mr. Tillney preached her funeral sermon. 
She Left six Children three by first, and three Girls by her 
Second Husband, viz., Shepherd Conwell, born 23d July, 
176S; Gerhardus Conwell, born 12th Nov., 1767; John Con- 
well, bom 29th January, 1770; MeHcent Clark, born 24th 
Sept., 1776; Anna Clark, born 27th April, 1778; Charlotte 
Clark, born 12th Feb., 1780. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 349 

1790, Feb. 24th, at 5 oClock in the morning, on Wednesday, 
the above mentioned John Clowes, Esq., & Judge of the Court, 
Died the 9th day of his sicknefs, with a violent Plurasie & 
inflamtion of the lungs. Aged S9 years 3 months & 18 days, 
& was buried at the South Corner of the Vault. Mr. Willson 
Preached his funeral. He objected being laid in the Vault; 
left his beloved wife; & Mary Clowes died 6 of August, 1813. 
Only 3 children out of ten survived him. 

From a Bible Owned by Miss Lydia Conwell. 

1783. Catherine Clowes, within mentioned, now the widow 
of John Young has but one child living, viz.: John Young 
bom 28th July, 1772. 

Mary Clowes, within mentioned, now the wife of John K. 
Dorman, has living four children, viz. three boys and one girl. 
Gerhardus Dorman, born 23d of August, 1772; 
Nehemiah, born 31st July, 1774; 
Elizabeth Dorman, born 29th July, 1776; 
John Dorman, born 22d May, 1779. 

Miers Clarke was married to Aletta Clowes in the year 1785 ; 
Miers Clarke was born the 2d of May, in the year 1761. 

Mary Clarke, daughter pi Miers and Aletta Clarke, was 
bom August 28th, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, on Sun- 
day, in the year 1786, was baptized by the Rev. Sydenham 
Thorne. 

Miers Clarke departed this life December 17, 1810. 

1792. May 9th, "Wednesday, about 9 in the morning, was 
born Sarah Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke and his wife. 

1794. September 10th, Wednesday, about 9 o'clock at 
night, was born Hannah Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke 
and Aletta, his wife. 

1798. October 24th, on tuesday, was born Elizabeth 
Clarke, about 11 in the morning, daughter of Miers Clarke 
and Aletta, his wife. 

1800. July 18th, about 5 in the morning, on Friday, was 
born Lidia Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta, 
his wife. 

1803. February the 1st, at 2 in the afternoon, was born, 
tuesday, Ester Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta 
his wife. 

1805. february 6th, on Wednesday morning about 1 
o'clock, was born Anna Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke 
and Aletta, his wife. 



350 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

1807. April 30th, between 12 in the morning, was born 
Aletta Clarke, daughter to Miers Clarke and Aletta, his wife. 

Mary Clowes died the 6th of August, 1813, aged 73 years, 
8 months, and 26 days. 

September 7th, 17 58. John Clowes, Jr., was married to 
Mary Draper by the Rev. Matthias Harris at John Spen- 
cer's, Esq., about 1 in the afternoon. 

Mary Draper, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Draper, was 
born the tenth day of November, 1739. 

On frayday, the seventeenth day of August, anno Domi. 
1759, between the hours of 12 and 1 in the morning, was 
born Sarah Clowes, daughter to John and Mary Clowes, 
and was baptized Munday, privately by the Reverend Mat- 
thias Han;is. On thursday the first day of July, 1761, about 
2 o'clock in the afternoon, she was siezed with a choaking 
fitt which ended with her life in about 9 or 10 hours after- 
wards, and she was buried at John Havelaves on Saturday 
following. 

1808. May 12th, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, James 
Walker was married to Mary Clarke, by Rev. Mr. William 
Hickman. 

1809. Aug. 16th, on Monday, was born James Miers 
Walker, son of James and Mary Walker. He died March 
10th, aged 27 years, 4 months, 8 days. 

1815. Joanna Tru-itt, March 17th, on Friday, daughter 
to John and Sarah Truitt. 

Sarah Pinner, daughter of Miers Clarke and Aletta, his 
wife, died in North Carolina, January 3d, 1871. 

Aletta Clarke's Book, April 28, 1789. 

1789. Our family has the measles. In July, Polly, my little daughter, 
had a gathering in her head. 

August 24. I was taken very sick. Lidia Hall stayed with me. 

September 15. Sister and I went to fathers. 

September 16. Came home. Parted with the two old ladies from 
New York, my father's cousins. We may never see them 
again in this world. 

September 19. I went to see my sister. 

October 10. About 10 o'clock at night as I was returning home, I 
saw a strange light in the house, that I could not account for, 
the house- being fastened up, and no one in it. 

October 31. I went to see my sister. She told me of two dreams 
she had dreamed. In one she was dressed in white, and her 
company told her she did not look as if she belonged to this 
world. In the other her child was born, and she was to die 
three days afterwards. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 351 

November 5. My sister and I went to the store at the bridge. 

November 7. We went to warp at Mrs. Russels, neither of us very- 
well. 

November 14. Went to see my sister. She was poorly. 

November 25. Went to see my sister and stayed all night. A most 
violent storm came on, the wind in the East. 

November 29. Polly Draper came here. 

November 30. Monday. Went to my father's. As it was snowing 
and very cold I stayed all night. 

December 1. I came home, and went to my Sister's, to get help about 
sizeing up a web. 

December 2. I got the piece out that I had in the loom, and got it 
to work. 

December 4. I wove on it all day. Just at night Mrs. Russel sent 
for me. I went over to see her. About 10 o'clock at night 
she was delivered of a daughter. About 12 I got home. My 
Brother Isaac Clowes came down this afternoon for sister and 
me to go to see our Dadda and Mamma. 

December 5. In the morning my Brother came over and said that 
Sister Sally was taken with an ague, and was very sick. I 
went right away to see her, and found her sickness most violent. 
Mamma came down in the afternoon. About 9 o'clock at 
night I sent for Grandmamma. Her violent sickness brought 
on her labour. On Sunday the 6th at sunrise she was delivered 
of a son. Not being well I went home. In the afternoon I went 
back. I found my sister in a sleepy condition. I walked home. 

December 7. This morning she complained of a sharp pain in her 
head, and about 9 o'clock she had a convulsion. She would 
frequently cry out: "Oh my head! my poor head!" About 
2 in the afternoon she was taken with another convulsion, 
and that left her speechless. She lay in this distressing con- 
dition until the 9th day about dij4 o'clock it pleased God to 
take her into His safe keeping. She was 20 years and 6 months 
old this day lacking 3 days. 

December 11. The burial — but the Parson could not come. Parson 
Willson preached her funeral Monday the 14th. 

December 23. A violent pain in my head and eyes. 

December 24. Some better. 

December 25. Christmas Day. Go to see my Dadda and Mama. 

December 26 & 27. My sister's Uttle baby had the measles, and 
Comfort Staton's child is sick. 

December 28. My father very sick. We send to the Doctor. 

December 29. Comfort's child died, and Comfort exceeding bad. 
My Dadda got better, thanks be to heaven. 

December 30. I came home from my Dadda's. 

December 31. Negroes a Christmasing. 
1790. 

January 1. Negroes gone. 

January 2. Mr. Watson and his wife here. 

January 3. Watson and his wife and Mr. Cade and his wife here 
Sunday. Some people make the holy day a day of visiting. 

January 4. Negroes at home. 

January 5. Miers from home. 



352 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

January 6. I go to my father's. He is at Lewes town. 

January 7. Came home and went to see Mrs. Heveloe. She was 
very sick. 

January 8. In the morning she was some better. 

January 16. Go to my father's. 

January 17 & 18. Came home. Comfort was some better. 

January 20. Mrs. Heaveloe died, after a long tedious spell of sickness. 

January 22. I was at her burying. She was a very kind neighbor. 
She lived one mile from me. 

January 23. Charles Conwell died. A young man, married about 
three months. His widow with child. He lived two miles 
from me. Abner Lamb died the same day. He Hved about 
five miles away. 

January 30. Was at Conwell's burying. From there rode to my 
father's about 3 o'clock at night. We thought my sister's 
little son was dying. Sent word for its father about 10 o'clock. 
It got better by the next morning. 

February 1. On Monday my Dadda came here. He gave me an. 
Almanack and a papei of pins. From here he rode to Lewes- 
town. 

February 2. Wove all day. 

February 3 & 4. Wove on my piece. 

February 8. Wove some but was not well. 

February 13. Should have gone to my father's but was not well. 

February 14. Harry Fisher and Sarah Truit were buried. Fisher 
lived 7 miles from here, and Sarah Truit 5 miles. 

February 16. On Tuesday mama sent me word that Dadda was 
very sick. I rode to see father as soon as I could and found 
him in a sleepy condition. We had means from the Doctor. 

February 17. My father was very sick. 

F.ebruary 18. A Uttle better. Sat up some. 

February 19. We thought him a great deal better. He walked out 
of his room. I ventured to go home, brother Isaac with me. 
We stopped to see two sick neighbors. Jonathan Lewis died 
1 mile from here. 

February 20. Mary Miller died 1 mile from me. 

February 21. Miers gone to Lewises. On Sunday Mama sent for 
■ me to go and see my father. He was worse than ever before. 
I rode up there as fast as I could and found him exceeding bad. 
He had a piercing pain in his breast and side, and the worst- 
cough that I ever saw any person have. We sent for the Doc- 
tors on Monday. 

February 22, 23. There were two Doctors with him but they 
were of no manner of service. Everything was done for him 
we poor creatures could do, but it was of no service. 

February 24. At 5 o'clock in the morning it pleased God to ease 
his body by taking his soul into His safe keeping. Thus my 
dear and tender parent is gone. A most violent pleurisy has- 
ended his life the 9th day of his sickness. He is this day 59 
years, 3 months, and 18 days old. He lived 32 years, 5 months,- 

' and 17 days with my Mama, and I never knew them to have 

any anger the time of his life. He was an affectionate hus- 

[ band, a loving father, a kind good master, and a kind neigh- 



BIBLE RECORDS. 353 

bor in sickness or in health. His greatest anxiety was to love 
mercy, justice, and truth. In doing justice towards God and 
man, his parents saw his young mind improve in every virtue. 

February 26. Mr. Willson preached his funeral. Yonder like a faded 
flower lies the dust he has abandoned. Sarah Claypool died. 
Lived about 2 miles from me. Patience Coverdale died the 
same day, 6 miles from me. 
'February 28. Mary Lewis died, her husband died nine days before. 
They lived about 1 mile from me. The sickliest time that I 
ever knew, there is hardly an individual without complaint. 
Wm. Chace died the same da 9 miles. I was at Sarah Clay- 
pool's burying. 

March 2. Dorman Cade died 6 miles from here. 

March 3. A sister of Chace's died, 9 miles from here. 

March 10. John Clifton died, about 8 miles, and John Caddy died 
about 7 miles from here. 

March 11. Another of the Chace family died, 9 miles, and Sarah 
Heavelo died just in her 17 year, 1 mile. 

March 17. I hear there are 4 more of the Chace famih^ dead, I am 
told that out of 10 there are but 3 left. Lord have mercy. 
Thy arrows fly not at random. 

March 17. Elizabeth Jeams died 6 miles off, and Mr. Hinmon died, 
6 miles off. 

March 19. A child of Chaces scalded to death. Rachel Heaveloe died 
in her 19th year. Mrs. Heaveloe, her 2 daughters and a negro 
child have died since this day 2 months, just 1 mile from me. 

March 21. Reece Rickets died about 4 miles from me. 

March 24. John Fisher died. About 3 miles off. 

March 25. Luke Watson's wife died. Lived 6 miles away. George 
Wiltbank and one of his children died. 7 miles. 

March 30. One of Mr. Russel's children died. Mrs. Russel left the 
child in bed when she got up in the morning. About break- 
fast time, on going up to get it, she found it was dead. Her 
surprise was very great. I was out back of our garden and 
heard great lamentations. I could not imagine what it could 
be. I walked up to the house and found what was the matter. 

March 31. Parson Wilson died about 7 miles from me. He was a 
very fine Parson and an oblidgeing Doctor. He died in the 
60th year of his age, greatly missed and lamented. 

April 4. Sarah Corwidda died. She lived 4 miles from me. She 
was a great loss to her children and family. 

April 8. Sarah Finley died. 4 miles. 

April 9. Nelly Draper died 7 miles. Both young women. 

April 19. Mary Russel died very suddenly, only a few hours' sick- 
ness. Lived about lyi miles. 

April 24. My Grandmama was here. 

April 25. Sunday, the old lady went home, well and hearty. Miers 
went to church at Cedar Creek. (St. Matthew's.) 

April 26. Very cold wind. E. 

April 27. Wind N. W. very cold 

April 28. Snow a good part of the day. The green wheat was cov- 
ered with snow. Very cold. 

April 29 & 30. Still very cold. 



354 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

May 1. Middling warm. Mama & Grandmama came here. 

May 2. On Sunday they went home. 

May 3 & 4. Miers cut his knee middling bad. 

May 9. Mr. Luker & his wife here on Sunday. All middling well. 

May 10. Fine weather. I go to see aunt Polly Dorman. She was 
very sick. 

May 11 & 12. My Brothers came here. 

May 13. The Boys went home. My knee is swollen, and it hurts me 
to walk. 

May 14, 15, & 16. Miers knee upon the mend, & my own some 
better. 

May 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23. Whitsun Day. I came home from 
Mamma's, my Brothers, & Cousin Sally Draper with me. 

May 24. A great meeting on the Beach, Cakes, Raisins, Meat, Bread, 
Rum, Wine, & all such things there to sell. 

May 25. The Boys & Sally went home. 

May 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30. Trinity Sunday. All middling well. 

May 31. The last day of May. 

June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. Sunday. People more healthy. 

June 8, 9, & 10. Philis sick. 

June 11, 12, & 13. Philis very sick Sunda}'. 

June 14. Some better. 

June 15. I went to Mamma's. Philis some better, and came home the 
same day. Betty sick, keeps her bed. 

June 16, 17, 18, 19, & 20. Betty still sick. 

June 21 & 22. Some better. 

June 23, 24, & 25. Still keeps about. 

June 26. Taken down again to her bed. 

June 27, 28, 29, & 30. Some better. 

July 1. Very warm. 

July 2. Went to Mamma's. 

July 3. Saturday. 

July 4. Sunday. Went to quarterly meeting. There was a great 
fright among the people. A crazy man threw an axe up at 
the meeting house windows. It struck somebody, but I did 
not see the person. The second preaching was under the trees, 
a very great number of people, and the same man, they said, 
got a gun and was going to fire it through the crowd. The 
first thing I knew the people were screaming and halloing, and 
rushing almost over one another. I could not imagine what 
could be the matter ; such a noise in the time of the sermon, 
when all should have been peace, and quietness. Some said 
the Devil appeared; some one thing, and some another. When 
I found out the truth, that it was the crazy man, with his gun, 
I came back to Mamma, and from there home with a very bad 
pain in my head. The dust and heat almost overcame me. 

July S. Billy did work here. 

July 6. Brother Peter, Sarah & Polly Draper came here. 

July 7. Went to the harvest at John Clark's. 

July 8. They went home. 

July 9 & 10. I was at the bridge. 

July 11. Sunday. 

July 12, 13, 14, & 15. Abby Fleetwood lives here. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 355 

July 16. Am sick & fainty. 

July 17. Some better. Mamma and Brother Isaac came here. I 
had 3 of the neighbour's women here the same day, to see me. 

July 18. Sunday. Very dry weather. A smart shower this after- 
noon. 

July 19. Mamma & Brother Isaac rode home. 

July 20 & 21. Hannah and Liddy Russell here to see me. I am 
better. 

July 22, 23 & 24. I went to Mamma's. 

July 25. Came home on Sunday. 

July 26, 27, 28 & 29. Mamma here. Still very dry. 

July 30. My Brothers came here. Almost 4 weeks since we have 
had a good rain. 

July 31. Mamma & the Boys went home. A fine rain this after- 
noon. Thanks be to the Great Providence. Our corn is in 
a manner burnt up, and the grass is dying. 

August 1. Sunday. Very likely for rain. I should have gone to 
Church. 

August 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. Very seasonable weather; everything takes 
new life. Sally Draper & Peter Jackson & his wife here. Rain 
this afternoon. 

August 8. Sunday. Very showery all day. 

August 9. They went home. I went to see Mrs. Russel this after- 
noon. 

August 10, 11 i& 12. Not very well. Very warm. A pain in my head. 

August 13. Sarah Draper came here & we were at the singing school. 

August 14. She rode home. I with her. From there to Mamma's. 

August 15 & 16. We came home from Mamma's. Very warm. 

August 17, 18, 19 & 20. I was at the singing school at Mr. Russel's. 

August 21 & 22. Sunday. Rainy this morning. Could not go to 
church. 

August 23, 24, 25 & 26. A bad pain in my breast. 

August 27 & 28. We started for Philadelphia. The tide being very 
low we could not go out. 

August 29. Still could not get out. 

August 30. The wind being in the East we came home. 

August 31. We rode down to the boat again. 

September 1. About 1 o'clock we got out of the mouth of the Creek. 
About 4 o'clock we struck on the Shears, a very dangerous 
place. The wind blew fresh & the waters were in a great rage. 
Everybody was very much frightened, but the Blessed Pre- 
server of all poor mortals preserved us through all danger. 
Next morning we were up against New Castle. About 4 o'clock 
we arrived at Philadelphia. Got up to Mr. Irwin's about 5 
o'clock. 

September 3. We walked about a great deal in the afternoon. Mr. 

& Mrs. Irwin & the young Cousin & myself drank tea at 

Mrs. Ashmead's. 

September 4. We drank tea at Mrs. Stretcher's. 

September 5. Sunday. I stayed out almost all day. We walked 
to church and heard a very fine sermon. 

September 6. I walked down to Mrs. Stretcher's and dined there & 
drank tea nowhere, not being well. 



356 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

September 7. After dinner I walked down to Mrs. Snoud's, and drank 
tea there. The old lady was very glad to see me. Stayed all 
night at Mrs. Stretcher's. 

September 8. Walked home to Mrs. Irwin's. Her two daughters 
and myself walked down to Mrs. Ashmead's, From there we 
walked to Major Moore's where my Brothers lodged, to know 
when the vessel was to go. We found it was to go the next 
morning at 5 o'clock. 

September 9. We took leave of our friends and made sail. 

September 10. We anchored about 7 o'clock just without the mouth 
of the river. 

September 11. About 2 o'clock we found ourselves on a shoal, but 
it was very calm and smooth. We lay there until flood tide. 
About 10 o'clock we made sail again. Got down against 
Mushmillion and there anchored. About 2 o'clock made sail 
again. 

September 12. We anchored off Slaughter Creek, the weather very 
stormy and wind from the East, so that we could not get into 
the Creek. When the tide made, we turned about and ran 
into Mushmillion. There we got ashore, and tried to put her 
off but could not. My two Brothers, my Cousin and myself 
walked down to Cedar Creek, 7 miles, and there we hired horses 
and got home the same night. Our people were very glad to 
see us, being very uneasy about us. 

September 13, 14, IS, 16, 17 & 18. Not very well. Caught a great 
cold on board the vessel. Rode up to Mamma's. 

September 19. Sunday. Rode home. 

September 20. Not very well. 

September 21. Miers sick. 

September 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26. Sunday. Miers Clark still very sick. 
Not well myself. 

September 27 & 28. Still poorly. 

September 29. Poorly. 

September 30. Polly sick. Her Dadda some better. Myself not 
well. 

October 1. Polly and her Dadda some better, but very poorly. My- 
self a very bad pain in my head. I did not sit up. 

October 2. A great deal better. 

October 3. Came home from Mamma's. Polly sick. 

October 5, 6, 7 & 8. Rode up to Mamma's. Little Johnny, the child, 
very sick. Intended to go home on the 9th, but there came 
up rain so that I could not get home until the 11th. 

October 12, 13, 14, IS, 16 & 17. Sunday. MiddUng cool weather. 
We heard of Polly Jackson's being (sick) sometime back, but 
had got some better. 

October 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24. Sunday. MiddUng cold weather. 
8 months to-day since my Dadda left this troublesome world. 

October 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31. Rainy weather. Family midd- 
ling healthy. 

November 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. Sunday. 

November 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. Singing school at Wessel's and 
Coolspring the last days of the quarter, but I did not go. 

November 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21. Cold weather. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 357 

November 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28. Sunday. Moderate weather. 

November 29 & 30. The last days of November. 

December 1 & 2. Henry Vessels came from the backwoods. 

December 3 & 4. Singing school at Russel's. Our corn gathered. 

December S. Sunday. Sally & Polly Draper go home. Very cold. 

December 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11. Philis moves away. I rode up to see 
Mamma. Came home on Monday, the 13, Brother Isaac 
with us. 

December 14, IS, 16, 17, 18 & 19. Sunday. Polly has ague and 
fever. 

December 21, 22, 23 & 24. Great shooting at the bridge. Brother 
came here from me to go up to Mamma's. 

December 25. Christmas Day. We go to Mamma's. Foggy and wet. 

December 27. Came home. Brother Peter with us. 

December 28, 29, 30, & 31. The last day of the year. 
1791. 

January 1. New Year's Day. Very cold. We were to go to Mr. 
Draper's today to take dinner with them, but it is too cold. 

January 2, 3, 4, & 5. Today we go to my Uncle Draper's. From 
there to Mamma's. 

January 6. Came home. Mamma with us. John Clarke taken sick 
this night. 

January 7. Send for Doctor Hall. Mamma, Miers, and myself stay 
all night. 

January 8. A great deal better. Mamma rode home. 

January 9. Sunday. This day 13 months ago my dear sister died. 

January 10, 11, 12, & 13. Mrs. Hazzard died. She lived about 2>i 
miles from here. 

January 15. This day I walked over to see my Aunt Polly Dorman. 
She is very sick. I don't think she will recover. 

January 16. Sunday. I went to see my Aunt again. Stayed and 
minded her. I had not been home very long the next morn- 
ing before they sent for me. I went back again and stayed 
with her until she died. She departed about 3 Oclock Tues- 
day morning. 

January 18. Of the month she was bom the 7th day of this same 
month 1739. I have but one Aunt alive, and not one Uncle on 
my Dadda's side. 

January 20. The funeral sermon was preached by Dr. McKee. 

January 21, 22, & 23. A great many people sick. 

January 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, & 31. The last day of the month. 

February. Mrs. Waller died and 2 of her daughters lie sick 2 miles 
from me. 

February 7. She is buried. Grandmamma came here from the bury- 
ing. Shepherd Conwell is taken sick- and could not get home. 
Caught cold at the funeral. 

February 12. We go to see Betty Jackson. We heard she was very 
sick. William Hazzard died. He lives about 2 miles from 
me. A great many sick, Edward Ross. 

February 15. He lives 2%, Sally Rowland, the widow Rowland's 
daughter. 

February 18. Griffith Jones died, about 7 miles, & Andone Will- 
kins, he lives about 7. 



358 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

February 19. Lot Clark's Mother was buried. 3 miles. 

February 24. This day 12 months my dear and tender parent 

left me. 
February 27. A very sickly time in this neighborhood. 
February 28. The last day of this month. 
March 1. Middling warm weather. 
March 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 to 13, Sunday, to 20, Sunday. 
April 1 to 10. Sunday. Sally Paynter here. 
April 11 to 17. I was at John Clark's and Lydia Hall came there, 

and came home with us. 
April 18. Polly taken very sick. 
April 19 & 20. We hardly e.xpect her to recover. Polly Draper 

came down. Mamma came down to see the child. She bleeds 

at the nose. 
April 21. Grandmamma came to see the child. She is rather worse 

this afternoon. 
April 22 & 23. The child some better. Grandmamma goes home. 

Miers goes after Sam and brings him home with him, and they 

go a fishing. 
April 24. Easter Day. Polly a great deal better. Betty & Polly 

Heaveloe here, and Aunt Caly Young, and 3 more people 

today. 
April 25 & 26. The child seems quite well, thanks be to God for 

His mercy. 
April 27, 28, 29, & 30. We all ride up to Mamma's. 
May 1. I go to Coolspring meeting. Mr. McKee preached there. 
May 2 & 3. Milla Clarke came to stay awhile with me. Sally 

Draper came today. 
May 4. Sally went home. I am not well. 
May 5, 6, 7, & 8. Not very well. 

May IS. Rode up to Mamma's. They are all well there. 
May 16. I came home and met Brother going home. He has been 
seeing to the cutting of his corn, and to haveing it put on 

the vessel. Polly has a large red place on her hand and has 
ague and pains in her head and back, and high fever. 
May 22. Still sick and the spot remains. 
May 29. We ask the Doctor about it. He thinks it is scurvy. Gave 

her a warm purge, and itrnade her very sick. 
June 1 & 2. Mamma came down & Polly very sick. 
June 3. A fine rain. 

June 4. Mamma goes home. Good rain this morning. 
June 5. Sunday. I am poorly, and the child also. 
June 6-10. Rode up to Mamma's. The Doctor came down mth 

me to see Mr. King's negro with small pox. 
June 12. Whitsun Day. So unwell that I cannot sit up. The child 

still has ague and fever. 
June 13. A great day of frolic on the beach. I hear there were a 

great many there and a great disturbance. Many were hurt. 
Thompson finishes the ditch. 
June 14 & 15. Sally Painter and Betsy & Polly King here. 
June 16 & 17. King's negro dies with the sinall pox. 
June 18, 19. Sunday. A very fine rain this afternoon. 
June 22. Mamma came down to see us. Polly sick. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 359 

June 23. Mamma goes home. She carried my poor Sister Sally's 
clothes home with her, to keep them for the child she left. 
My Sister's marseilles coat was given me, because my Sister 
was buried in a white one of mine. 

June 24. Mr. & Mrs. Jackson here and their two little boys. 

June 25. We all go over to John Clarke's. Miers and the child sick. 

June 26. Mr. & Mrs. Jackson went home. Miers and the child go 
to Mamma's. I went to quarterly meeting and came round by 
Mamma's. Was very tired, the weather very warm and 
crowds of people. 

June 27. Came home and commenced preparations for harvest. 

June 28. We have our harvest. The greatest part of the wheat cut. 

June 29 & 30. Finish whitewashing the house and am very tired. 
Brother Peter goes home. 

July 1 & 2. Milly goes home sick. Polly sick. 

July 3. Sunday. All middling well. 

July 4. Hessy began to work. 

July 8. Rode to Mamma's, and came home Sunday the 10. 

July 17. Sunday. Polly still sick. 

July 24. We rode up to Mamma's. There was singing. Came home 
on Sunday and went to meeting at William Conwell's. 

July 30. Mamma came here. I was at the bridge. Mamma went 
to John's. 

July 31. Sunday. Went home the 1st day of August, and Grand- 
mamma came down. 

August 6. Grandmamma goes home. Hessy went home today. 

August 7. Sunday. We went to hear Livy Hall preach. 

August 14. We went to see Gerhardus & Nancy Conwell. 

August 21. We went to Jonathan Heaveloe's and to hear Livy. 

August 2S. Sheldron Dorman married Tabitha Parmore [Palmer]. 

August 27. I go up to Mamma's, & from there to Uncle Isaac Draper's 
and stayed all night. Came home on Sunday the 28th. 

August 30. My Grandmamma, Mamma, Aunt, Brother, 3 Cousins, 
husband, and child, all went down to the beach, together with 
others. I suppose as an extraordinary company that has gone 
down for years. There was my Grandmamma, & her Daughter, 
her Daughter's Daughter, that is myself, and her Daughters 
Daughter's Daughter, that is my Polly, and she was 6 years 
old day before yesterday. 

August 31. They all rode home in good health, only a little fatigued. 

September 1. Hessy gets her hat. Costs 26s. 

Septembers. Polly very sick. Miers goes to John Hazzard's. Rained. 
I send for Betsy Dorman to come and stay with me. 

September 4. Sunday. Betsy went home after the rain was over. 

September 10. Hannah Russel very sick yesterday. Sunday the 
11th we go to her funeral. We got wet. 

September 18. Mamma & Brother Isaac came her. Polly and I 
not well. 

September 2S. I went to meeting at Coolspring and heard a very 
fine sermon. Brother Isaac came home with me. I saw 
Mamma there. She said that Granny was sick. When I came 
home Miers and Polly were both sick. 

September 26. Miers still sick. Polly is about today. 



360 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

September 30. Miers some better today. 

October 1. We go to Mamma's. Miers goes out to the election. 
October 2. We came back. Brother Peter with us. Miers very- 
poorly. 
October 9. Miers very bad with his pains. 
October 16. Miers still in great pain. 
October 23. Miers some better. 

October 27. Grandrnamma came here. I am not very well. 
October 30. Grandmamma goes home today. Miers very poorly. 
October 31. A little better today. 
November 1. Mamma came here today, & Doctor Hall advised 

Miers to try brimstone water. Nancy Conwell is very sick. 
November 4. Mamma went home today. Very cold weather. 
November 6. Brother Isaac came. Miers a great deal better. He 

went out today for the first time this 5 weeks. 
November 8. Miers well enough to ride out. Weather warm. I go 

to see Nancy Conwell. She is still very poorly. 
November 10. Miers in much pain. 

November 13. Miers still down. I suppose he caught cold. 
November 19. Doctor Hall came here today. He says that Miers' 

leg will break, or must be lanced. I rode up to Mamma's this 

afternoon and back again. They are all middling well. Mamma 

gave me 10 yards of Calico. 
November 20. Middling cold today, and windy. 
November 27. Miers is poorly. 
December 3. Brother Isaac came today. 
December 8. Nancy is sick and goes home, leaving the piece not 

woven. 
December 9. Brother Isaac & Brother Peter came today. 
December 10. They trod out our wheat. 
December 11. The Boys went home today. 
December IS. Mamma came today. 
December 18. Sunday. Very warm for the season. 
December 23. Brother Isaac & Brother Peter came, & went to the 

shooting match at Dick Star's. 
December 24. Brother Peter went home. Brother Isaac went to 

the bridge and got a bad fall. Miers is sick. 
December 25. Christmas Day. I went to Church, and from there I 

went to Joseph Watson's. The horse started, throwing me and 

hurting me very badly. 
December 26. Mrs. Watson carried me to her father's Mr. Draper's. 
December 27. They sent me in a carriage to my Mamma's. 
December 31. Nancy Conwell came here. 

1792. 
January 1. Very wet weather. 
January 3. I let Gerhardus Conwell have 6 geese. 
January 4. I hired Ainee Fowler today. 
January 7. Middling cold weather. There are a great many frolics 

this Christmas. 
January 9. A frolic at John Con well's. John Hazzard got drunk, 

and John Clarke got to dancing, so I was told. 
January 15. Brother Isaac came today. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 361 

January 18. Polly Draper is to be married today. Brother Isaac 

sat up a little while ago, for the wedding. Is sick. Snowing 

hard today. Bill Coverdale is married today to Nance Rida. 
January 22. Snowing all day and very cold. The snow was so deep 

that people could not pass the Causeway. There were three 

lodged here all night. 
January 23. Dreadfully cold weather. The wind N. W. 
January 26. John Clarke has a froUc at his house. 
January 27. Brother Peter and Sarah Draper went home. 
January 29. John Clarke and Brother Isaac went to church. 
January 31. Still very cold. 

February 2. I went to Mrs. Russell's to warp my web. 
February S. Sunday. Middling cold weather. 
February 7. Cold rain. Wind Easterly. 
February 9. Mamma and Brother Peter came here. 
February 11. Mamma and Brother Peter rode home. Miers, myself, 

Polly, and Anne rode up to Gerhardus Conwell's. We left the 

children all night. 
February 12. Miers brought the children home. Drizzling weather, 
February 14. Miers went to Fergus's and from there to John Haz- 

zard's, and did not get home until today. Mrs. Russel's girls 

stayed with me. 
February IS. John Heaviloe and his wife came along and would 

have Miers and me go to David King's with them. 
February 16. David King and wife, John Heaviloe and wife, and 

several others were here until night. . After they left we put 

the horse to the sleigh and rode up to Mamma's. It was quite 

dark when we got there, and we were very cold. 
February 17. Came home. Left Polly at Mamma's sick. 
February 18. Miers went after the child. She would not come, and 

Miers left without her. On the way home the horses ran away 

with the sleigh and broke it. 
Februray 19. Miers and m.yself went over to the bridge. 
February 20. Very cold weather. 
February 23. Mrs. Blount sends for me. Sarah Draper brings Polly 

home. She has fever again. Sally went home after dinner. 

Mrs. Russel and I went to see Mrs. Blount. 
February 26. Sunday. Polly is sick today. 
February 28. Sally Painter, Mrs. Dorman, came to see me. 
February 29. Hannah Russel and David Pennewell are married. 
March 3. I and Polly went to Mamma's. 
March 4. We came home. Grandmamma with us. The horse threw 

Grandma and hurt her middling bad. 
March 6. Philis is delivered of a girl. 
March 9. Grandma went home. 
March 11. Sunday. Brother Isaac came. 
March 12. Polly sick. Brother Isaac went home. 
March IS. Snow storm from the E. Quilting at Mrs. Russel's and 

at Uncle Isaac Draper's. I was not invited to my Uncle's. 
March 16. Miers went to the bridge to see about his plank. 
March 17. Carting plank from the vessel. Brother Isaac is here. 
March 18. Sunday. Drizzling weather. Wind S. E. 



362 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

March 19. Betty Russel came to weave for me. 

March 23. Warm, damp weather. 

March 25. Sunday. MiddUng cool today. Maud Draper is here. 

March 29. Sally Draper came. 

March 30. Betty Russel got her piece out. I and Polly went home 

with Sally, and from there to Mamma's. 
March 31. I came home. Brother Isaac with me. Middling cool. 
April 1. Brother Isaac and John Clarke went to Coolspring. Aunt 

Katy came. We all went to John's after they came back from 

meeting Katy wanted to see the painting. 
April 2. Brother Isaac went home. Mrs. Russel sent for me to go 

to David King's with her, but I did not go. Mrs. Dorman 

went. 
April 3. Betty came and put in my blankets. 
April 4. Mrs. Dorman came to see me. 
April 5. Lydia Russel came to see us. 
April 6. Betty got out her other piece. 
April 7. I and Polly went to Mr. Heaviloe's. 
April 8. I went to church. Sacrament was given to a great many 

people. All the weaving that Betty has done came to 13s. fid. 
April 13. Brother Peter came to see us. 

April 14. Brother Peter went home and John Clarke with him. 
April IS. Meeting at Mr. Ellits. John Hill preached. 
April 17. Warm with lightning, and thunder and showers. 
April 18. Damp and cool. Aunt Caty came, and carried Polly to 

Nancy Conwell's. 
April 19. Mrs. Blount, Sarah Painter, Aunt Caty, and Nancy Con- 
well came to see me. Rain and very cold. 
April 20. Nancy went home. Still very cold. Wind E. 
April 22. Brother Isaac came here from meeting. 
April 23. Brother Isaac went home. Pleasant weather. 
April 25. A great deal of rain fell this evening. 
April 27. Nancy Conwell came this evening. 
April 28. Gerhardus and Nancy started from the bridge in Heavileo's 

vessel. I walked down with them. Walked over to Mrs. 

Russel's this afternoon and met Grandma and Mamma. They 

feent home with me. 
April 29. Middling cool. Aunt Caty came. Hear that Dorman is 

drunk, it being such a fitting day to be that way, Sunday. 
April 30. Rain all the morning. Mamma went home. 
May 1. Damp weather. 
May 4. Anne hurt her face with a fence log, Polly went over and 

stayed all night. The greatest rain this morning, perhaps for 

several years. 
May 5. Brother Isaac came here. Mrs. Russel came this afternoon. 
May 6. Sunday. I was walking and saw Dorman just going home 

from the Justice's meeting. He had remained all night. 
May 7. Middling pleasant weather. 
May 8. Rainy weather. Very busy with my goslins. Brother 

Peter came. 
May 9. My little girl Sarah was born. Grandma and Sally 

Draper went home. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 363 

May 11. Brother Isaac came down and brought Polly home. 

Mamma and Brother went home this afternoon. 
May 12. Sally Draper came down. 

May 13. Sacrament at Coolspring. Mrs. Dorman here, and sev- 
eral others. 
May 15. Sally went home. Bubba Russel broke his thigh. 
May 17. Mamma came down. 
May 19. Mamma went home. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker, Mrs. Hook 

and Betty Dorman here. 
May 20. Sunday. They went home. Uncle Isaac and Aunt Betty 

came to see me. 
May 21. Lydia Hall went home with her poor cross child. 
May 27. Mamma and Sally Draper came down and brought me 

some pease. The child is very cross. 
Mav 28. Whitsun Monday. A great many people going to the 

beach. They have a frolic at John Hazzard's. Sally Draper 

and Brother Isaac went there. 
May 29. Mamma and Sally went home. Sally not well. 
May 31. Brother Isaac and Miers went up to Milford. They took 

Jack to Mamma's. 
June 1. Miers came home. Very warm. Jack went back. 
June 7. Very cool. Wind E. Miers went fishing and caught a fine 

lot. 
June 10. The worst spell of weather that I ever remember for this 

time of year. 
June 11. Betty Dorman went home. Still cold and damp. 
June 14. I walked out of doors for the first time. Brothers Isaac 

and Peter, and little John Clarke came down. 
June IS. I moved out of the room and had it washed out. Sally 

Painter here. A great fog. 
June 22. Mr. & Mrs. Jackson came down, their 2 sons, a hired 

man, and a negro boy and girl. 
June 23. Brother Isaac came down for me to go home with him, but 

I could not go. Mrs. Jackson and Brother Isaac went to 

John Clarke's. Miers and Mr. Jackson went down the Creek. 

Brother Isaac went home this' afternoon, and took the girls 

with him. 
June 24. Sunday. Warm. Musquitoes very thick. 
June 25. I went as far as Mamma's with Mrs. Jackson, and a dread- 
ful time I had of it. From there I went home. 
June 26. Harvesting at Mamma's, and Washy's. 
June 27. Grandmamma and I went to Uncle Isaac's. A very warm 

afternoon. 
June 29. We begin our harvest. 4 hands hired. There came up 

a cloud just before sunset, as I stepped in the door there was 

one of the loudest peals of thunder I have ever heard. Mr. 

Tull's house was struck, and part of the chimney fell. 
June 30. I went to see Mrs. Russel. John Clark, Brother Isaac, 

and Mr. Simpler here. We rob our bees tonight. 
July 1. Sunday. Wm. Painter here. He eats some honey. 
July 2. Peter came down. Mrs. Russel & Mrs. Pennewell here. 

Brother Peter went home. Aunt Caty here. 



364 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

July 7. Finish harvesting this afternoon. 

July 8. I go to meeting at Elliots. Bevy Hall preached. They 

expected Aydelott. I went to Uncle Isaac's and came home 

in the afternoon, Cousin Sally with me. Very warm. 
July 9. Cousin Sally went home. Very warm and dry. 
July 11. Lidia Russel came to see me. John Clarke from 

home. 
July 12. Brother Peter came down. He took Polly home with 

him. 
July 13. Brother Isaac and Doctor Wilson came down down. 
July 14. Brother Isaac and a great many went to the beach. I 

went to John's to eat oysters. 
July 15. A great many people went to meeting today. I see 

Brother Isaac riding alongside of Hannah Conwell. 
July 16. Very warm, windy, and dry. 
July 18. Brothers Isaac & Peter, Mrs. Ashmead & Benny Draper 

went down to the beach, Miers with them. Came back in the 

afternoon and went home. Little Sally very poorly. 
July 22. Went up to Mamma's. Looks Kke rain. Child still has a 

bad purgeing. Polly not well. 
July 28. Polly Hook and Lidia HaU came. 
July 29. Rainy weather. Toby's funeral preached today. Polly 

Hook went home. John Clarke & Hazzard here. 
July 30. Lidia Hall went home. Mamma and Brother Isaac here. 

He is not well. 
July 31. Brother Isaac middling today. They go home. Mrs. 

Russel and Aunt Caty here. Aunt Caty is not well. 
August 5. I hear that Mamma is sick. 
August 6. Brother Isaac came. I go with him to see Mamma and 

find her very sick with Rose ( ?) 
August 7. Mamma very sick this morning. Did not sleep. Mamma 

some better this afternoon. I came home, Brother Peter 

with me. 
August 8. Brother Peter went home. He bottomed Polly's chairs. 
August 11. Roderick Heaviloe here. They have a frolic at John 

Hazard's. Roderick looks very poorly. 
August 12. Sunday. Very warm. Nat Wright came here. Lidia 

Hall and her son here, & Shepherd Conwell. 
August 13. Lidia gone. Brother Isaac here. He says Mamma is 

middling again. 
August 15. I went to Mr. Heaviloe's to warp. 
August 16. John Clarke went to town. He heard that James Wil- 
son was married yesterday. 
August 17. John came back. Wilson was married 7 weeks ago and 

noone knew of it except the Parson and his Brother. 
August 18. Miers went out and got our sugar & coffee from on 

board. Brother Peter came. Very warm weather. 
August 19. Sunday. Brother Isaac and Sally Draper, & John 

Clarke came this morning to bid us farewell. They went 

to Philadelphia. From there John & Isaac are to go to 

Xew York. Brother Peter went home and took Polly & Anna 

with him. 
August 21. Ruth has been sick since Sunday. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 365 

August 22. Got my piece and wove more than two yards. Ruth 
better. 

August 23. Brother Peter brings Polly home and says that Mamma 
and several of the family are sick. Aunt Caty came she wanted 
me to go to Mr. Russel's with her, but I could not go. 

August 24. A smart shower of rain today. 

August 25. Thomas Clarke came this evening. 

August 26. Sunday. Little Sally very cross. 

August 27. I am not well. Brother Peter came. 

jVugust 29. Brother Peter went home. Aunt Caty here. She is 
not well. 

August 30. Aunt Caty and I walked over to Mrs. Russel's. 

August 3 1 . Very warm and dry. 

September 1. Miers had such a bad fall that he thought he had 
broken two of his ribs, but I think they are not broken. Miers 
had a letter from John Clarke today. He says they did not 
arrive in town until Thursday, the 23d and are to leave there 
Sunday the 26th. They are well. 

September 2. Looks Uke rain. John Conwell here. 

September 3. Mamma came down to see us. Mrs. Russel sent for 
me. I was there when she came. 

September 4. Mamma goes home. Mrs. Pennewell and Lidda Rus- 
sel here. 

September 6. Wm. Coffin's wife is dead. Left a young baby. 

September 8. Brother Peter came down this afternoon. 

September 9. I went to meeting at Wm. Conwell's, and heard a 
fine sermon. Coming home it was very warm. It hailed, 
the stones very large. Brother Peter went home. 

September 10. John Young here. 

September 11. Polly sick, and Sally. 

September 13. Polly still very sick, but determined to go to Grand- 
ma's. 

September 14. We took her there. 

September 15. Brother Isaac came back from New York by land. 
John Ashmead came with him. They left John Clarke in 
Philadelphia, to come by water. 

September 16. It rains. Polly some better. We ride over to Mr. 
Draper's. Sally came back with us. Mrs. Martin's child very 
sick. 

September 17. John Clarke came up to Mamma's. He came back 
yesterday. We came home. Polly a great deal better. 
Brother Isaac with me. 

September 19. Lidia Hall came to stay with me until the children 
are better. 

September 20. Lidia & Philis picked the geese. Wm. King's child 
died. 

September 22. Mrs. Young came to see us. 

September 23. My Brothers, Sally Draper and myself went to Wm. 
King's to the funeral. David King's wife very sick. 

September 24. The boys and Sally went home. Lidia went to see 
her children. 

September 30. Polly still poorly. Mamma & Brother Isaac here. 

October 2. Miers goes to vote. Very rainy and cool. 



366 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

October 6. Miers very sick. Lidia goes to see her child. 

October 9. Miers still sick. Mamma & Brother Peter came down. 

Aunt Caty is sick & Mamma went to see her. It is a very 

sickly time. Brother Peter went to work on the cherry tree, 

with Philip. He worked until he nearly fainted, then got 

John's Frank. Mamma & Brother Peter went home and 

left the negroes at work. Miers is better. Fillis is sick. Sue 

and Mos sick, & Ruth gone. 
October 13. The negroes still sick. Miers better. 
October 16. I am not well. Fills middling. Her children stiU 

sick. 
October 20. Brother Peter came after me to go up there. 
October 21. We came home, Brother Peter with us. Left Polly 

at her Grandma's. 
October 22. Brother Peter went home. 
October 23. He came down to go gunning on the great marsh. Sue 

sick & Fills gone to mill. 
October 24. Betty Dorman brought Polly home. 
October 28. Joseph Russel is dead. 
October 29. Sally very cross, she has one tooth just out. Polly 

not well. 
October 3 1 . Middling warm weather. 
November 2. James Vent buried. Miers went to the funeral. Our 

folks are at a goose picking. Somebody has picked a good 

many of them for me. I understand it is Mrs. Dorman. 
November 3. Mamma came down after little Johnny. I under- 
stand he is at his dadda's. 
November 4. We went over to John's. The boys came down an'd 

we all ate dinner there. Brother Isaac went to John Hazzard's, 

Mamma came home with us. 
November S. Brother Peter came down. Old Whorten hewed his 

tree. Brother Peter & Mamma went home and took Anna 

with them. 
November 9. Sally is 6 months old today. Sally Draper is here. 
November 10. Brother Peter came down and took Polly home with 

him. Miers gone to the great marsh. Fisher Conwell is here. 
November 11. Miers & Fisher went to EHas Conwell's. Thomas 

Clarke came. Mrs. Russel went to Mrs. Hazard's to see Mrs. 

Cade. We got back in the evening. 
November 12. Brother Isaac came. 

November 13. Clarke went home. Brother Isaac went to Milford. 
November 14. Went to Mrs. Russel's to warp my piece. 
November 16. Brother Peter came down for me to go there. 
November 17. I went to Mamma's. 
November 18. We came home, Brother Isaac with us. 
November 19. Jerry Claypool & George, Miers, Brother Isaac, & 

John out gunning. I am a good deal afraid that Claypool 

will carry off Ruth. 
November 21. Miers, Brother Isaac & John went to Burton Robi- 

son's. 
November 22. John sends in Mamma's name for Uncle Isaac's 

mare. He and Brother Isaac went to Milford to a wedding. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 367 

November 2-t. Rainy weather. Brother Isaac & John came back, 

and went off again. I do not know where. Fillis is sick. 
November 25. Sunday. Anna sick. Her Dadda not at home. Miers 

gone to the great marsh to look after his cattle. 
November 30. Middling cold weather. 

December 1. John Heaviloe here. Shepherd Conwill & Sue Cover- 
dale here. 
December 2. I went up to Mamma's. Very cold. 
December 3. Came home not very well. I saw a man with his nose 

bit off. 
December 4. Brother Peter went home. 
December 6. Hessy came back from Charles Connerly's. 
December 8. Hessy went to see her Brother with his nose bit off. 

The boys came here. Isaac went to Hazzard's. 
December 9. Sunday. Joshua Clarke, his wife and child came. 

John & Anna here. Peter went home. Very cold. 
December 10. Aunt Caty here. Clarke & his wife went away, 

Hessy got home. Her Sister Feeby came after her to go and 

weave. 
December IS. I and the child not well. 
December 16. Brother Isaac came. Have a very bad pain in my 

head. 
December 17. Brother Isaac asked me to go and see him married. 

Feeby came home, and Hessy with her. 
December 18. John Hazzard married to Mrs. Hosman in Lewes town. 
December 19. Brother Isaac married to Hannah Conwell, John 

Hazzard's first wife's daughter about 1 o'clock. The wed- 

deners came from town. There being so many spectators 

Brother Isaac and Hannah were married privately up stairs. 

None but the Parson, the groomsman, the bridesmaid, and 

John Clarke saw it. About 10 o'clock at night we got home, 

Sally Draper with us. 
December 20. Sally and I set off very early to Mamma's that all 

of Hazzard's guests were to come there about 1 or 2 o'clock. 

Grandma & Ma welcomed their new relation. They all left 

about 10 o'clock. 
December 21. Brother Isaac and Hannah came home with me. 

Feeby was still here. When we were at supper she wanted 

Ruth to get some shad for her. Ruth said No. She said 

take the key and go, they are at supper, they will not know it. 

The poor creatiire would have been as much deceived as Cain 
■ whfen he slew his brother and thought that no one knew it, 

for his Maker knew it, she was going to her Brother's that 

night and wanted to carry the fish with her, 
December 22. Brother Isaac and Hannah went to Hazzard's to see 

them. 
December 25. Christmas Day. Aunt Caty came. Miers not at 

home. 
December 26. Clarke went to the forest. Annie is here. 
December 27. Brother Isaac and several neighbours came for dinner. 
December 28. John & Brother Peter came. I was to go up the Neck, ' 
but did not go. All went to Russel's to a frolic. Paid X °i 
a dollar a piece. Got back about 2 o'clock. 



368 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

December 29. We went to Mamma's, and from there to Mr. Collin's, 
Brothers Isaac & Peter, and Hannah with me. 

December 30. Mrs. Collins and I went to Mrs. Jackson's. We 
dined upon rocjcfish. Mr. Collins, Brother & his wife, and 
Brother Peter went to Meeting. 

December 31. Coming home Hannah fell out of the carriage. The 
wheel ran over her and hurt her very much. We stopped to 
see Polly Jackson. She is very poorly. When we came to 
Mamma's, Mr. Hazzard and his wife were there. They went 
away, and we went to Uncle Isaac Draper's. I wished Sally 
much joy as she and John were married privately last Thurs- 
day at Georgetown. Only two or three knew of it. 
1793. 

January 1. I came home. Brother Isaac, Hannah & Sally went to 
meeting. 

January 2. TThey went home. John went to see his wife last night. 

January 6. We went to John's. He said he would bring his wife 
home this week. 

January 11. John came for me to go there. I went. Fillis went 
and made some bread. 

January 12. I went over very early before John had his breakfast. 
He got ready as soon as he could. Brother Peter and Sam 
Painter went with him. I was there until about 2 Oclock, and 
then went home to get clean clothes on, and to get my child. 
But John and the guests got back before I did. We had a 
very agreeable evening of it, and all went home in peace about 
10 o'clock. 

January 13. Sunday. Brother Isaac & his wife. Brother Peter & 
Polly Wiltbank came in the afternoon. John sent for us. 
We stay until after tea. They went to John Hazzard's, and we 
came home. 

January 20. Mr. Hazzard, his wife, and myself went to John Clarke's. 

January 22, Sally Clarke came and we passed a pleasant evening 
together. Miers and John having gone to the vendue. 

January 23. I went to see Sally. Middling cool weather. 

January 25. Brother Isaac and Hannah, Brother Peter, John and 
Sally came. They stayed until bedtime. After much laughter 
they went home, Peter and Shepherd with them. 

January 26. We go up to Mamma's. The men value the land today. 

January 27. Isaac, Hannah, Brother Peter, and I walked to Luker's. 
Came by Mr. TuU's. He and his wife very sick. 

January 28. We came home. Brother Peter with us. " 

January 29. Miers away. Weather fine. Grandmama, Aunt Betsy, 
John, Sally, and Annie came. 

January 30. Dreadful snow storm came on about 1 o'clock in the 
morning. I could not hear whether the vessel went out. It 
is now almost night and Miers not at home. I am afraid he is 
out in the storm. About 8 o'clock he came home. I think 
I was never so glad to see him in my life, for I did not know 
what might happen. 

January 31. Aunt Betsy went home. Polly Wiltbank married. 



BIBLE RECORDS. 369 

February 1. Miers not well. Grandma and I insisted that he 
should not go out, but he said he would go to the vessel and 
get his clothes. About dinner time I expected him back, 
and kept his dinner by the fire until almost night, and his 
supper also until bedtime, but he did not come. I heard the 
vessel went out about 1 o'clock. Mrs. Russel came today. 

February 2. Very rainy. Miers not returned. I hear that Ma is sick. 

February 3. Sunday. Fine moderate weather. Mr. Gary is buried 
today. 

February 4. Grandma went home. Lidia Russel came here. John, 
Sally, & Annie here. 

February 5. Lidia went home. I got her to stay all night. Betty 
and Polly Heaviloe and Sally Clarke came. Sally stayed all 
night. 

February 6. I went home. Sally stayed all night. 

February 7. I expect Miers at home, the wind being fair all day. 

February 8. Brother Peter came. 

February 10. Brother Peter went home. Brother Isaac and Han- 
nah came here from meeting. John, Sally, and Lidia Russel 
came over. Miers back from Morris River. 

February 11. We all went over to John's, and came back in the 
night. It snowed and blew so that we could not see our way. 

February 12, 13, 14. Very cold weather. 

February 16. Mama came to see us. 

February 18. Mama went over to John's and stayed all night. Lidia 
Hall came. 

February 19. Mama went home. 

February 21. Lidia went away. 

February 24. It is three years since my father died. 

March 2. Brother Isaac & Hannah here. 

March 3. They went home. 

March 9. The boys here. Very cold weather. 

March IS. Lidia Russel here. 

March 16. Polly Hook here. 

March 17. I went to meeting at Wm. King's. 

March 22. I went to Mama's. 

March 24. Mama came back with me. 

March 25. Mama and Aunt Caty went to John's. 

Joshua Fisher of Lewes went to Philadelphia, 1745. 

Inscriptions on Tombstones in the Ancient Cemetery 
IN Pilot-town. 

In memory of Hannah Baily who died January 16th, 
1732, aged 72 years. 

Here lies the Body of Hannah Jacobs, Born May 11th, 1734; 
Departed this life December 18th, 1767. 

In memory of Albertus Jacobs, who died April the 28th, 
1748, aged S3 years. 

In memory of John Jacobs, who dyed ye 19th March, 1741, 
aged 45 years. 



370 SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY. 

In memory of Jacob Art, who departed this life September 
13th, 1769, aged 48. 

In memory of Sarah Art, the wife of Bailey Art, who 
departed this life October 1st, 1797, aged 26 years 

John Naws. 

Benjamin Naws. 



INDEX. 



Abchurch, Mary 145 

Able, Henry 70,72 

Accomake. . . 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 31, 141, 172 
173, 179,237 

Act of Parliament 215 

Adams, Rev. Alexander 225, 227 

Adams, John 51 

Adams, Peter 46 

Adams, Samuel 144 

Adams, William 134, 154 

Adkdnson, Richard 57 

Adkinson, Thomas 93 

Adolph, Peter 104, 106 

Alef, Joseph 138, 151 

Alexander, Ffrans 158 

Alison, Mr. Hector 230 

AHson, Mr. Isaac 230 

Allen, Henry 127, 134, 136 

Allen, Mary 342 

Allen, Moses 342 

Allen, William 79 

All Hallows Parish 232 

Alloways Creek 142 

Alrichs, J 12 

Alrichs, Peter 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 36, 56 

Alston, A 21 

Alstone, Arthur 21 

Amraand, Mr 199 

Amsterdam 2, 3, 11, 12, 34 

Amsterdam, Fort 5 

Anderson, Robert 32 

Anderson, William 14, 31, 32 

Andrews, George 109, 111, 113 

Andrews, Rev. John 220, 234, 23 S 

346, 348 

Andros, SirEdmond..ll, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 

20, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 142 

Angola Neck 142 

Annapolis 172, 177,321 

Antego 139 

Aplegate, Bartholomew 116 

Appoquiminioh 173, 180, 184 

Arendael, Will 135 

Amestead, DanieU 21 

Arnold, William 255, 257 

Art, Baily 370 

Art, Jacob 370 

Art, Sarah 370 

Asewomet Inlet 82, 84 

Ashmeads, John 365 

Ashmeads, Mrs 355, 364 

Ashton, Thomas 122 

Askew, James 25 

Assawarnon 13,31 

Assbury, William 142 

Athanasian Creed 200 

Atthow, Thomas 59, 61, 62, 65 

Audrey, John 13 

37 



Avery, John... 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20,29, 30 

32, 33, 38, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60 

61, 66, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77 

80, 81, 86, 90, 92 

Avery, Mary ; 93 

Avery, Sarah 92 

Aydelott 364 

Backhouse. Rev. Richard 231 

Backstead, John 15 

Badger, John 138 

Baggwell, John 78 

Bagwell, William 45 

Baily, Elias 149 

Baily, Hannah 137, 149 

Baily, Hannah, Jr 369 

Baily, John 51 

Baily, Jonathan. . .41, 42, 44, 46, 119, 122 
126, 130, 134, 143, 149 

Baily, Jonathan, Jr _ 34 7 

Baily, Mary ' 149 

Baker, William 1 1 1 

Ball, Lt. George 53 

Balsch, Isaac 21' 

Baltimore, Lord 7, 10, 12, 30, 31, 187 

Barbados 42, 148, 153 

Barker, Elizabeth 132 

Barker, John 35, 90, 96, 101, 105, 113 

116, 133 

Barkstead, Joshua 23 

Barnard, Captain 50 

Barnes, Benoni 21 

Barnett, John 59, 62, 76, 78, 102 

Baron, John 155 

Barrows, John 67 

Barrett, John C 21 

Barry, Edward T 136 

Barsteede, Joshua 66, 68, 114,116, 118, 135 

Barthelmy, Jeremiha 156 

Bartlett, Nichols 79 

Bartlett, Sarah 79, 100, 133 

Barton, John 21 

Barton, Robert 126 

Barwick, Katharine 154 

Baswell, John 21 

Bateson, Ffrancis 76 

Batson, John W 297, 299, 303 

Batson, Kendle 276, 298, 299 

Bawcombe. Peter 18. 21 

Bayard, James A 299 

Beall, Capt. Joshua 322 

Beall Lt. Col 325 

Beaman. John 78, 94 

Beauchamp, Isaac 160 

Beaverly, William 78, 79, 80, 89, 96 

lOJ, 107, 111 

Beavers 61 

Beckett, Alexander 133 

1 



372 



INDEX. 



Beckett's Dream 190 

Beckett, Elizabeth 219 

Beckett's Farm ; 196 

Beckett, Hester 133 

Beckett, James 189 

Beckett, John 189 

Beckett, John, Sr 203 

Beckett, Katharine 133 

Beckett, Mary 203, 339 

Beckett, Susanna 219 

Beckett Will 219 

Beckett, Rev. William.. 182, 183-6, 194-5 

199, 202, 206, 209-19, 338, 339 

345, 347 

Bedewell, Robert 21, 134 

Bedewell, Thomas 122 

Bedford, Gunning, Jr 296, 309 

Bedwell, Susanna 122 

Beekman 6 

Beer-selling 122, 123 

Bellamy, John 22, 23, 78, 85, 89, 90 

97. 120, 146 

Bell, EUzabeth Hamilton 271 

Bell, Rev. Hamilton 270, 271, 272 

Bell, Mary Eleanor 271 

Bell, Mrs 270, 272 

Benbrick, Edward 124, 153 

Benbrick, Jane t 153 

Bennett, John 340 

Bennett, Miriam 340 

Bennett, Pernal 340 

Benson, George 93 

Berry, Edward 137 

Berry, Samuel 158 

Berry, William, Jr 21 

Besant, Thomas 67, 135, 140, 148, 152 

Bessant, Jane 129 

Bessant, Thomas 123, 129 

Betts, John 134 

Bibbe. Edmond 332 

Bibbe, Esther 333 

Bibbe, Mary 332 

Bibbe, Matthew 333 

Bible Records 329 

Biship, Arin 75 

Bishop, John 157 

Blackbird Creek 20 

Black, W 304 

"Black Will," 76 

Black, Rev. William. .. 169, 173. 174, 17 7 
179,227 

Blackwell, John 144 

Blagge, Benjamin 115 

Blair, Mr. Commissary 179 

Blanck, Jurien 6 

Blockhouse. 7, 40 

Blount, Mrs 361 

Bluett, Rev. Thomas 229 

Bocent, Thomas 117 

Bolstick, Thomas 21 

Bombardment of Lewes 178 

Bonaparte, Jerome 326 

Bonaparte, Napoleon 326 

Boodle, Edward 80,87,99 

Boomtieshook 11,30 

Booth, Francis 148 

Booth, James 45 

Booth, John 76 



Booth, Joseph. .42, 125, 147, 150, 152, 155 

Borden, Mark 157 

Borroughs, Ester 333 

Borroughs, John 333 

Borroughs, William 333 

Boston 33, 141, 170 

Bounds of I^wes 124 

Bourne, William. .' 78, 79, 85, 94, 96 

Bowd, Isaac 138, 146 

Bowd, Jane 138 

Bowman, Henry. 23, 33, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 
60, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 69 
70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 90 
96, 105, 107, 113, 115 
118, 124, 131, 137, 154 

Bowman, John 150 

Bowman, Mary 148 

Bowman, Mr 18, 33 

Bowman, Thomas 131 

Bracey, Ann 136 

Bracey, Elizabeth 124, 125 

Bracey, Mary 124 

Bracey, Robert, Sr 22, 56, 59, 74, 75 

77, 123, 136 

Bracey, Robert, Jr 69, 74, 80, 103, 115 

123, 125, 133 

Bracey, Thomas 22 

Bradford, Mr 193 

Bradford, Nathaniel. . 57, 58, 69, 71, 74. 96 

Bradford, Capt. William. . .52, 87, 96, 103 

106, 116 

Bradshaw, John 137 

Bradshaw, John, Jr 137 

Brady, Philip 158 

Brady, Samuel 157 

Braines, Capt. Thomas 44 

Branscom, Elizabeth 151 

Branscom, Mary 148 

Branscom, Sarah 148, 149, 151 

Branscom, Thomas 118, 141, 148, 151 

Brate, Abram 21 

Bravan, Joseph 145 

Brearday, John 144 

Brereton, Robert 255, 257 

Brereton, William 248, 252 

Bridge, John 16, 21, 78, 94 

Bridge, Mr 170 

Brifthte, Charles J 90, 92, 95, 105, 137 

Brinklo, John 21 

Bristol 184 

Broad Creek.87, 92, 108, 124, 126, 141, 155 

Broad Creek Church 2 71, 300 

Broad Kill 345,347 

Brock, Capt. William 279 

Brooke, Henry.. 43, 45, 46, 47, 181, 187, 20 
206. 211 

Brooke, Ralph 127 

Brooks, Henry 327 

Brown (Breen, Broen), Daniel 4, 8, 14 

15, 17,29,33, 36, 37, 56 

57, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67 

69, 73, 74, 77,85,87 

Brown, John 104, 109, 116, 123 

Brown, John Mason 300, 333 

Brown, Joseph 56 

Broxon, Joseph 333 

Broxon, Thomas 333 

Bundick's Branch 126 



INDEX. 



373 



Bundick's Bridge 124 

Bundock, Grace 55 

Bundock, Richard 62, 63, 93, 103, 133, 134 

Bundock, Rmth 118 

Bundon, Rich 75 

Buoys 3 

Burch, Edward 42 

Burgess, Captain 43 

Burgess, Comfort 127 

Burke, Hen 183 

Burlington 162 

Burough, Susanna 137 

Burton, Albert 276, 279 

Burton, Ann May 341 

Burton, Benjamin 248, 320 

Burton, Caroline 341 

Burton, Cornelius 220 

Biuiion, Eliza Ann 341 

Burton, Gideon 276 

Burton, John H 276, 279, 341 

Burton, Joshua 252, 253, 280, 283 

Burton, Leali 343 

Burton, Mary Ann 341 

Burton, Mary Vaughn 341 

Burton, Robert 67, 250, 276, 280 

Burton, Theopholus 341 

Burton, William 78, 252, 254, 256 

264, 273 

Burton, Woolsey 46 

Burying Ground 40, 120, 122 

Butler, Deborah 127 

Butler, William 60, 86, 110 

Byron, William 339 

Caddy, John 353 

Cade, Dorman 353 

Cade, Mr 351 

Cade, Mrs 351 

Cade, Robert 128 

Callary 43 

Calvert, Philip 9 

Camomile Street 25, 40 

-> CampbeU, Mr 187 

Canaries 43 

Canes, William 23 

Cannon, Elijah, Sr 253,256,258,262 

Cannon, Elijah, Jr 251, 259 

Cantwell, Ed. ..7, 10, 14, 17, 19, 31,37,97 

Cape Fear 50 

Cape Francois 48,49 

Cape Henlopen 326 

Cape James 82, 84, 88, 108, 115 

Cape May 6, 48, 49, 154 

Capes of Delaware 48,52 

Capes of Virginia 48, 50 

Card-playing 122, 258 

Carey, Edward 134 

Carey, John 134, 136 

Carey, Mr 369 

CarUsle, Mr 265,266,269 

Carman, Michiel 6 

Carpenter, Affyance 143 

Carpenter, Annie Eliza 336 

Carpenter, Benjamin 337 

Carpenter, Catherine 329 

Carpenter, Comfort H 336 

Carpenter, Elizabeth 337 

Carpenter, James 143, 150 



Carpenter, James Henry 336 

Carpenter, Jane 337 

Carpenter, John Dean 337 

Carpenter, John Dorman 336 

Carpenter, Joseph 336 

Carpenter, Louis Marshall 336 

Carpenter, Lydia 337 

Carpenter, Margaret 336, 337 

Carpenter, Margaret M 336 

Carpenter, Mary 336 

Carpenter, Mary Dean 336 

Carpenter, Mary Quinn 336 

Carpenter, Mary Rodgers 337 

Carpenter, Nancy 336, 337 

Carpenter, Robert Howard 337 

Carpenter, Thomas Howard 336 

Carpenter, Thomas Howard, Jr 336 

Carr, Capt 9, IS 

Carter, Ehzabeth 57,58 

Carter, John 115 

Carter, Wilham. . . 57, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 7 4 

75, 87, 88, 104, 106, 107 

110, 113, 136 

Cartle, Elijah 56 

Caudmes, William 152 

Cedar Creek 18, 20, 33, 57, 76, 84, 91 

92, 124, 129, 136, 141, 353, 356 

Cedar Creek Forest 221 

Cedar Creek Hundred.. . 158, 234, 237, 238 

Cedar Neck 17, 33 

Chace, William 353 

Chamberlayne, John 162, 174 

Chambers, John 152 

Chambers, Michell..S5, 67, 86, 93, 125, 152 

Chaptonke 17 

Charles, Mr., Secretary 204 

Charles, Symon 136 

Charleton (Companion) 43 

Chester 82, 83, 84, 231 

" Chevaux de Frize Pilots " 53 

Chew, Mr 200 

Childs, Rev. John A 282. 283 

Chipman, Sarah 333 

Christian the Indian 122 

Christina Kil H 

Church and Chapels 232 

Church Lots 255 

Cinnepuxon Inlet 41 

Claessen, William 11, 30 

Clament (widow) 15 

Clampitt, WilUam 134, 144, 154 

Clark, Honor 54,60, 100, 133, 135 

136, 137 

Clark, James 129 

Clark, John .71, 134 

Clark, Sarah 155 

Clark, William.. . .18, 21, 22, 23, 33, 35, 36 
37, 41, 44, 45, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 
60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 72 
73, 75, 76. 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86 
89, 93, 110 114, 121, 131, 135, 139 

Clark, William, Jr 132,134 

Clarke, Aletta 344, 349 

Clarke, Aletta, Jr 345 

Clarke, Alletta's Diary 350 

Clarke, Anna 344, 348, 349 

Clarke, Charlotte 348 

Clarke, Elizabeth 344, 349 



374 



INDEX. 



Clarke, Ester 344 

Clarke, Hannah 344, 349 

Clarke, John.. .354, 358, 360, 362, 365, 367 

Clarke, Joshua 367 

Clarke, Lidia 344 

Clarke, Lot 348, 358 

Clarke, Mary ' 344, 349 

Clarke, Melicent 348, 358 

Clarke, Miers 344, 349, 356 

Clarke, Polly 350 

Clarke, Sarah 344, 368 

Clarke, Thomas 365 

Claypoole, Elizabeth 137 

Claypoole, George 366 

Claypoole, James 134, 143 

Claypoole, Jeremiah 46, 149 

Claypoole, Jerry 366 

Claypoole, llarv 100, 133 

Claypoole, Norton 23, 55, 56, 59, 63 

64, 65, 66, 68, 74, 75, 77, 78, 81, 82 
85, 93, 97, 100, 103, 105, 106, 111 
114, lis, 118, 123, 133, 135, 137 

Claypoole, Rachel 100, 111. 115, 123 

133, 135, 137, 138, 141, 144 

Claypoole, Robert Ill 

Claypoole, Sarah 353 

Clayton, John 157 

Clement, Abraham 13, 14, 29, 31, 37 

Clemmy, Abraham 4 

Cleveland, Rev. Aaron 232, 233 

Cleveland, Susanna 233 

Cliford, Mongo 155 

Cliford, Thomas 21 

Clifton, Robert. ...23, 26, 41, 104, 112, 113 
116, 130, 138, 152, 154 

Clifton, John 353 

Clifton, Sarah.... 25, 26, 116, 136, 138, 152 

Clifton, Thomas 24,25, 40, 154 

Clowes, Aletta 344, 345, 349 

Clowes Bible 344 

Clowes, Catherine 344 

Clowes, Comfort 345 

Clowes, David 345, 348 

Clowes, Ezekiel Williams 346 

Clowes, Gerhardus 347 

Clowes, Hannah 348 

Clowes, Isaac 346, 351, 364, 367 

Cl'jwcs, John 22, 47 

Clowes, John, Jr 344, 347, 349 

Clowes, Judge John 349 

Clowes, Mary 344, 345, 349 

Clowes, Peter 346 

Clowes, Ryves 345 

Clowes, Samuel 345 

Clowes, Sarah 344, 346 

Clowes, William 347 

Clubb, Mr 173 

Cocke, Edward IS' 

Codd, Berkley 225 

Coe, EHzabeth 136 

Coe, John 25, 136 

Coe, William 149 

Coffin, William 365 

Coggeshall, Preserved . 149 

Cold Spring 141,224 

Cole, John 256 

Coleman, Thomas 276 

CoUe, James 118 



CoUens, Darby 131 

CoUens, George 18,34 

CoUens, William 148 

Collins, Mr 368 

Collins, Mrs 368 

CoUison, Barbary 135 

CoUison, John...29, 36, 37, 96, 97, 113, 135 

Commis 1 

Commissary 199 

Commissions for Lower Counties. ... 194 

Conely, John 21 

Connepuxon Inlett 41 

Conventions (Diocesan) 251, 253, 258 

259, 262, 266, 267, 268, 270, 274 
27S, 276, 277, 278, 280, 282, 283 

Connerly, Charles 367 

Conwell, Charles 352 

Conwell, Elias 366 

Conwell, Fisher 366 

Conwell, Gerhardus 348, 359,361 

Cijnwell, Hannah 364, 367 

Conwell, John 348, 360, 365 

Conwell, Lydia 349 

Conwell, Nancy 359, 360, 362 

Conwell, Shepherd 348, 357, 363, 367 

Conwell. William 359, 365 

Cool Spring 321 

Cook, Capt. Robert 45 

Cook, Rev. Mr 166 

Cooks, Edward 67 

Cooper, Mr 272 

Coore, Esther 140 

Coore. Richard 136 

Corbet, Robert 134 

Corbet, Roger 42, 125, 144 

Cord, Joseph 46 

Cord, William 255, 258, 260 

Cordiner, Mr 171, 175 

Cornelius, Harmen..7, 55, 56, 59, 61, 63, 64 

Comellison, Herman 36 

Cornwell (Conwell), Francis 24, 112 

119, 120, 121, 130, 132, 137, 142, 146 

Cornwell, Francis, Jr 132, 142 

Cornwell, Mary 130, 138, 142, 146 

Corsey, David 71 

Cortes, John 21 

Corwidda, Sarah 353 

Coudrey, Ben 56, 59, 61 

Couper, Capt. Henry 238 

Couper, James 320 

Court House 117, 121, 181, 254, 255 

264,272, 274, 275 

Court, the first 30 

Courtney, Thomas 158 

Coutter, Joseph 265, 267 

Coverdale, Bill 361 

Coverdale, Nance 361 

Coverdale, Patience 353 

Coverdale, Sue 367 

Coverdale, Thomas 155 

Cowdree, Joseph 18, 33 

Cowdrey, William 89,91, 152 

Cowthry, William 156 

Crafford, Mongo 124 

Crafford, Richard 155 

Cratord, Will 85 

Craig, Rev. George 232 

Crawford, Rev. Thomas 161, 163, 166 



INDEX. 



375 



Crawford, Mrs. Thomas 166 

Creagor, Cornelius 62 

Cregier, Capt. Martyn 36, S9, 61, 63, 65 

69, 73, 77 

Cresap, Thos 324 

Cressop, Colo 325 

Crew, John 75, 76, 96, 102, 117 

Crompton, Thomas 16, 17, 33 

Croper, Jo 56, 57, 58 

Cross, Mr. Robert.' 230 

Croutch, John 144, 154, 155 

Crowell, Samuel ^ . . 154 

Crowell, Susanna 143, 155 

CuUen, Charles M. .266, 268, 270, 273, 275 

CuUen, Charles W 335 

Cullen, Elisha D 335 

Cullen, Elizabeth 335 

Cullen, George. 89, 335 

CuUen, John 335 

Cullen, Jonathan 33 5 

Cullen, Piercy 335 

Cullen, Sarah 335 

Cumings, Enoch 46 

Cummings, Rev. Mr 187, 195, 212 

Cummings, Mrs 199 

Curtis, John 18, 34 

Cypress Bridge 141 

Daggworthy, Capt 323 

Daggworthy, Capt. John 323, 324, 325 

Dagworthy, Mrs 294 

Dampier, Capt 43 

Daniel, John 69, 74, 96, 116 

Darby, Daniel 67 

Darrall, WiUiam 35 

Dause, Eauan 21 

Davids, John 57 

Davids, Judith 15 

Davids, Susanna 149 

Davids, Thomas. ..15. 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 93 

Davids, WilUam 62, 78, 80, 150 

Davis, George 138, 146, 159 

Davis, Mark 160 

Davis, ilr 198 

Davis, Mrs 250 

Davis, Nehemiah 160 

Davis, Samuel ' 46, 182, 317 

Davis, William 155 

Dawson, John 21 

Dawson, Michael 53 

Dawson, Rich 71, 102 

Daygtet Richard 141 

Deal, New 21, 22, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60 

62,65, 68, 69, 72, 73, 77 
81, 84,85, 99, 157 

Dean, Mary 336, 337 

Dean, Michael 52 

Dearborn, Henry F 339 

Dearborn, Henry G 339 

Dearborn, Mary A 329 

De Braak 327 

Debter, Miney ISO 

Deeds 182 

Delaware 6, 8, 21, 22, 85 

Delaware Bay 1, 6, 7, 17,30,32,38,48 

51, 52,83 

Delaware River 34, 51, 52, 81, 83 

Delia vail, Capt. Thos 69 



Denison, Thomas 56, 65 

De Payster, Abraham 206 

Depister, Abraham 28 

Deprea,Andrew.25, 26, 56, 66,92, 110, 113 

Deprea, Jacob 67, 99, 100, 133 

Deprea, John. .25, 26, 55, 60, 64, 66, 67, 68 

74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 92, 93 

99, 105, 109, 133, 144 

Deprea, Mary 26, 131 

Deprea, William 26 

Dere, Will 97 

De Shaw, John .18, 34 

Designy, Doctor Petter, 104, 107, 108, 111 

Devries 1,2 

De Walvis 1 

Dickinson, John 54, 75, 89, 143, 240 

Dickinson, Samuel 132, 136 

Dickinson, Walter 17, 18 

Dicks, Robert 13, 18 

Dishaa, John 21 

Ditch in Lewes 40, 125 

Dixon, Thomas 157 

Dobson, Richard 128 

Dod, George 145 

Dorchester County 17, 33 

Dorman, Betsy 359 

Dorman, Elizabeth. 344, 349, 359, 363, 366 

Dorman, Gerhardus 344, 349 

Dorman, John 344, 349 

Dorman, John K 344, 349 

Dorman, Mary 344, 357 

Dorman, Nehemiah 344, 349 

Dorman, Sheldron 359 

Dorman, Tabitha 359 

Douglass, Ann 136 

Douglass, William 7 

Dover 122, 193, 229,251,258, 275, 276 

Dover Hundred 161, 162 

Dover River 134 

Dowgan, Timothy 124, 150 

Draper, Alexander. . .22. 55, 56, 57, 58, 63 
67, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 85, 91, 97, 102, 115 

Draper, Alexander, Jr 137, 138, 146 

Draper, Benny 364 

Draper, Chatrine 148 

Draper, Henry 137 

Draper, Isaac 344, 350, 359, 361, 368 

Draper, John 148 

Draper, Mary 344, 350, 361 

Draper, Maud 362 

Draper, Nelly . . 353, 357 

Draper, Polly 351,354,357,361 

Draper, Rebecka 137, 146, 150 

Draper, Sarah 344, 350, 361, 363 

Drew, Captain James '. 327 

Drigers, William 145 

Droochestraeder, Herman 36 

Duchi^, Rev. Mr 221 

Duck or Duke Creek 17, 18, 33, 38 

Dumfries 170 

Dunavan, The Widow , 131 

Dunton, Thomas 64 

Dunton, William 67 

Durborow, Hugh 157 

Durnall, WiUiam 60, 62 

Durvall, William.. 65, 66, 67, 70, 75, 81, 82 

85,88,90,91 

Dyer, Edmund 141 



376 



INDEX 



Dyer, James 141 

Dyer, Mary 23, 141, 142, 144 

Dyer, Sarah 141 

Dyer, Major Williain 23, 123, 137, 142 

Dyer, "William 124, 141, 143, 150, ISS 

Ecclesiastical Records 157 

Edinburgh 169 

Edmondson, James 154 

Edmondson, John 153 

Edwards, Morrice 113, 121, 124, 130 

135, 137, 144 

Edwards, Simon 51 

Edwards, Thomas 106, 113, 145 

Edwardson, John 17 

Elliott, James 254, 258, 261, 263 

Elme, John 134, 135 

Elme, Margaret 135 

Ely, George 148 

Ely, Jane 148 

Emitt, Mary 59 

Emitt, William, . .56, 59,65, 67, 69, 71, 79 

86, 87, 96, 105, 107, 108 

110, 114, 116, 122, 126 

133, 138, 145 

Emitt, William, Jr 100 

Empson, Richard 45 

Endsor, John 158 

England 25,40,86, 138 

Enloes, Anthony 58 

Ennis, Levin 255, 258 

Enos, Richard 269 

Erskine, Mr. John 230 

Eubanck, Henry 71,117 

Evans, John 158 

Evans, Mrs 199 

Evans, Peter 187 

Evans, Rev. Mr 161 

Evans, Thomas 158, 160 

Everson, Matthias 59, 65, 74, 100, 135 

Eves, Oswald 48 

Eyres, Abigail 133 

Eyres, Abigail, Jr 133 

Eyres, John 133 

Eyres, John, Jr 133 

Falconer, Captain 52 

Fast Day 4 

Fenton, Mr 187 

Ffancy, William 116 

Ffarmer, William 128 

Ffenwick, James 47 

Ffenwick, Thomas 45, 145, 317 

Ffinch, John 54, 60 

Ffletcher, Capt. Gen 158 

Ffletcher, Rev. Thomas 225 

Ffletcher, William 276 

Ffox, Jonathan. 136 

Ffrances, Robert 21 

Ffreeland, Isaac 158 

Ffreeman, Rev. Aaron 284 

Ffreeman, Susanna 134 

Ffretwell, Dorothea 153, 154 

Ffretwell, Ralph 153 

Ffretwell, Roger 153 

Field, Luke 51 

Field, Mary 341, 342 

Field, Nehemiah. .40, 41, 45, 123, 124, 125 
133, 135, 138, 143, 149, 154 



Field, Nehemiah, Jr 139, 144 

Field, Rachel 139, 144 

Field, William 51, 139 

Finley, Sarah 353 

Fisher, Alls 136 „ 

Fisher, Dennis HI 

Fisher, George R 158 

Fisher, Harry 352 

Fisher, James 136 

Fisher, John 121, 131, 136, 158, 35J 

Fisher, John, Jr 136 

Fisher, Joshua.. 47, 319, 32 7, 362, 364. 369 

Fisher, Lydia 369 

Fisher, Margaret 35, 126 

Fisher, Miers 369 

Fisher, Rachel 136 

Fisher, Samuel Rowland 369 

Fisher, Sarah 136 

Fisher, Susanna Ill, 134 

Fisher, Thomas. . 35, 45, 121, 123, 136, 154 
156, 363, 326, 369 

Fisher, (widow) 35 

Fisher, William 45, 131, 150, 156 

Flaman, Capt 3 

Fleetwood, Abby 354 

Fleming, Thomas 150 

Flower, William 49 

Forman, Rev. John 272,275, 276 

Fort Amsterdam 5 

Fort at Lewes 7,12 

Fort Cumberland 293, 321 

Fort Frederick 322 

Fort James 8, 9, 10, 30 

Fofit (Fossit), Charles 151 

FoHt (Fossit), Rachel 151 

Foster, Ann 26 

Foster, John 26, 134 

Foster, Robert 67 

Fowler, Ainee 360 

Franklin, Benjamin 193,210, 233, 294 

Franklin, Rev. Walter E 281 

Frounsen, Simon 21 

Fulham Palace 230 

Fuller, John 137 

Futcher, Ehzabeth 146, 329 

Futcher, Henry 146, 329 

Futcher Island 148 

Futcher, John 130, 146, 148, 329 

Futcher (Ftootcher), Mary. .145, 146, 329 

Futcher, Richard 146, 148, 329 

Futcher, Sarah 146, 329 

Futcher, William.. .7, 17, 22, 33, 55, 56, 59 

65,68,69, 70, 74, 75,77, 78, 104 

145, 146, 219,274,276,329 

Futcher, William, Jr 146, 148 

Gamble, Joseph 53 

Garland, Susan 15 

Garritt, Barnard 85 

Garritt, Barnwell 94, 124, 151, 154 

Gazette of the United States 312-317 

Geddington 234 

Georgetown. . .280, 283, 298, 301, 305, 312 

Gerris, Barrents 140 

Getes, John 221 

Gibb, Marie 154, 155 

Gibson, John 79 

Gill, Rich 56, 57, 59, 102, 103, 105, 133 



INDEX. 



377 



Gill, Robert 47 

Gilluin, Robert 102 

Gilpin, Lydia 369 

Gilpin, Thomas 369 

Gitto, Dorothy C 137 

Gitto, Henry 120, 137 

Glass, John 106 

Glebe 234, 236, 247,248, 249 

Glover, John 17,21 

Godijn, Samuel. 1,2 

Godsell, Peter 137 

Godsell. Robert 136 

Godsell, Sarah 136 

Godwin. Cesar 124 

Godwin, William 182 

Goesen, Jaf eth N 21 

Goit, Mary 127 

Goit, Peter 127 

GoUidge (Jones), Thomas 134 

Gordon, Daniel 53 

Gordon, Major 187 

Gordon, Hon. Patrick 198, 200 

Goss, Peter 326 

Gould, Edward 149 

Goylack, Yoaldm 54, 60 

Grainger, Nichos 45 

Grammar School 235 

Grant, Alexander 138 

Grantam, John Ill 

Gray, David 152 

Gray, Elizabeth 152 

Gray, Ffackly 55 

Gray, Isaac 152 

Gray, James 64 

Gray, Jonathan 152 

Gray, John 152 

Grav, Rebecka 152 

Gray, Samuel.. 17, 23, 33, 56. 57, 58, 62 
63, 64, 74, 75, 93, 96, 106 
108, 114,121, 125, 142,152 

Gray, Sarah 149, 152 

Gray, Susanna 100, 125, 133, 152 

Gray. Thomas 152 

Great ICill 135, 150 

Green, Ann 339 

Green Branch * 88 

Green, George 158 

Green, Jane Eliza 339 

Green, Pyramus 48 

Green, Thomas 158 

Greenbury, Nicholas 78, 94 

Greentree, John 157 

Griffin, Richard 21 

Grimdyk, Thomas 76, 80, 87, 90 

92, 106, 108 

Groondyk, Peter.. 13, 31, 36, 37, 54, 58, 59 

60, 61,62, 63, 66, 69, 70, 71 

72, 73, 74, 75. 76, 77, 102 

Groves. Sarah 138, 143 

Groves, Thomas.l8, 21, 34„97, 127, 138,143 

Gum, Roger 77, 78, 105, 111, 113 

Guinney 6 

Gunby, Francis. 56, 57, 59, 63, 65, 66, 67, 7 

Hackester, John 17, 33, 54, 55, 94 

Hacket, Rev. Walter 195, 199 

Hagester, John...66, 67, 69, 71, 79, 80, 114 

131 



Hagester. John. Jr 79. 151 

Hague 2 

Hall. Bevy 304 

Hall, Col. David 320 

Hall, Doctor 357, 360 

Hall, Livy. . .'. 359 

Hall. Lydia 350, 358, 363 

Hall, Robert C 159 

Hall, Thomas 67, 92 

Hall, The Widow Ill 

Hamen, Andreas. 132 

Hamen (alias Haverly), Anthony.. .59, 61 
63,65,66,68,69.73,74 
75, 77, 78, 85, 97, 104 
117, 124, 132, 154, 155 

Hamen, Daniel 133 

Hamen, James 133 

Hamen, John 132 

Hamilton, Mr 192 

Hancock, Thomas. 109 

Hanser, Aminadab, Jr 146 

Hanzer, Aminadab 99, 146 

Hanzer, Rose 146 

Hardin, James 118 

Harding, Frances 132 

Harford, Thomas 149 

Hargrove, George 158 

Harley, Robert. Jr 97 

Harman. Henry 54, 57, 58, 92, 94 

Harmanus 10 

Harmassamale the Indian Ill, 116 

Harris, Rev. Matthias 232, 234, 344 

345,350 

Harris, William 269 

Harris, Dr. William 280 

Harrison, WiUiam 248 

Harrison. Rev. Mr 206. 207 

Harte. Daniel 4 

Harte. James 48 

Harte, Joane 138, 152 

Harte, John 22 

Harte, Margaret 136 

Harte, Margaret, Jr 136 

Harte, Robert 18, 33, 61. 82. 85, 152 

Harte, Robert, Jr 85, 87, 91, 95, 107 

115, 133, 136. 152 

Harte, Thomas 101 

Hartle. Elias 75 

Harvey. Richard.. 67, 86, 92. 113, 136, 144 

Hassold. Thomas 64, 65. 66, 71 

Haward, Thomas 17, 33, 55. 56, 65, 80 

86, 90, 96, 113, 129 

Haye. John 21 

Haynes, Charles 136, 141 

Haynes, Elizabeth 135 

Haynes, John 135 

Hazzard, Elon (Ellen) 26 

Hazzard, Cord 26, 220 

Hazzard. David 26 

Hazzard. Hap 247, 251, 253 

Hazzard, James 26 

Hazzard, John. .26, 359. 360, 363, 366,367 

Hazzard, Jacob 252, 255, 260, 262, 268 

Hazzard. Mrs 357 

Hazzard, William 357 

Heath, James 114 

Heavelo, Betty 358, 369 

Heavelo, John 346,361,367 



378 



INDEX. 



Heavelo, Jonathan 359 

Heavelo Landing 348 

Heavelo, Mrs 352 

Heavelo, Polly 358, 369 

Heavelo, Rachel 353 

Heavelo, Roderick 364 

Heavelo, Sarah 353 

Heiffer, Thomas 18, 21, 34 

Heights, Samuel 67 

Helier, Danel 99 

Henlopen 2, 6, 11, 13, 30, 31, 42, 49 

SO, 53, 81, 82, 88, 223 

Henlopen Lighthouse 326 

Henry, Francis 71, 76, 96, 97 

Herington (Harrington), Eles. ', 152 

Hews, Elizabeth 100, 133 

Hews, James 78, 138 

Hews, Katharine 100, 133 

Hickman, Ffrancis 150 

Hickman, George 276, 280 

Hickman, Joseph "..,.. 150 

Hickman, Mary 350 

Hickman, Rev. William J 44, 350 

Hickman, "William M 284 

Hide, Cornelius 145 

Higbee, Rev. Daniel 272 

Hignett, Robert 68, 69, 74, 75, 109 

Hignett, William P 137 

Hilard, Daniel 126 

Hilard, John 21, 38, 108 

Hill, EHzabeth 135, 136, 137 

Hill, John 23, 24, 41, 45, 55, 56, 59, 61 

62,63,64,65,73, 77,80, 81 
82,87,89, 90,93,96,97,108 
115, 125, ISO, 151, 155, 362 

Hill, Richard 157 

Hill, Thomas 21 

Hillborn, Mary 331 

Hillyard, Charles 158 

Hillyard, John 38, 138 

Hillyard, John, Jr 138 

Hillyard, Rachel 138 

Hinman, Mary 131 

Hinman, Richard 26, 46, 131, 136 

Hirons, Samuel 158 

Hix, William 157 

Hockaday, Samuel 153 

Hoddom 170 

Hodges, Barnard 18, 19 

Hodkins, Jane 137, 150 

Hodkins, Thomas 113, 115, 135 

Hogbean, Richard 24 

Holgate, Robert. 136 

Holland 2 

Holland, James 265 

Holloway, Jane 59 

HoUoway, Nazareth 134 

Holloway, Richard 40 

Holt, Rives. ..46, 47, 48, 220. 224, 230, 234 
338, 347 

Holt, Ryves, Jr 338 

Holt, Mrs. Catherine 347 

Hoogland, Martin 96 

Hook, Polly 363,369 

Hook, Mrs 363 

Hooker, Mr 363 

Hooker, Mrs 363 

Hoorn 2 



Hoorn Kil 2,5 

Hore Kil. . . .2, S, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 21 
22, 30, 33, 35 

Horse Races 56, 130 

Horsey, Outerbridge 300, 301-3, 304-8 

Hosman, Mrs 367 

Howard, Richard 252, 255, 258, 260 

262, 266 

Howard, Robert 157 

Howard Wight (Knight). .56, 65, 121, 150 

Howard, William 137 

Howell, Capt. 210 

Howell, Katherine 154 

Howell, Major Edmund 154 

How, John 138, 139 

Hudson, Anderson 274,276 

Hudson, Ann 330 

Hudson, Henry 1,330 

Hudson, Robert 64 

Hudson, Walter 252, 255, 257 

Huling, James 136, 338 

Huling, John 129 

Huling, Margaret , 338 

Huling, Martha 149 

Humphrey, Alexander 21 

Humphrey, Mr 173, 184, 188, 191, 207 

Hunter, Hon. William 309 

Huntington, Capt 176 

Hyshebon, John 7 

Inch of the Candle 120 

Indian Inlett 17 

Indian River. . .78, 106, HI, 116, 124, 198 

Indian River Hundred 247 

Inglis, Rev. Charles 234 

Inglows, Anthony 131 

Ingram, John 158 

Inloes (Enloe) 64, 139 

Inscriptions on Tombstones 338 

Ireland 136,231 

Irwin, Mr 3S5 

Irwin, Mrs 355 

Ishell, Daniel 140, 143 

Ishell, Mary 143 

Ixwonboult, Peter 145 

Jackson, Barnwell 65, 68, 78, 116 

Jackson, Betty 357 

Jackson, Christopher 18,21 

Jackson, Mr 359 

Jackson, Peter 355,359 

Jackson, Polly 356,367 

Jacobs, Albert 23, 118, 124, 128, 135 

136, 150,339, 370 

Jacobs, Elizabeth 339 

Jacobs, Hannah 369 

Jacobs, John .46, 369 

Jacobs, Martha 141, 128 

^ Jansen, Jacob 6 

Jeames, Elizabeth 353 

Jeffrey, John 264 

Jenldns, Francis 32,40, 112 

Jenkins, Mr 7 

Jenkins, Thomas 171, 172, 174, 174 

Jennings, Ann 136 

Jennings, Edward 158 

Jennings, John 59 

Jenny, Rev. Dr 218 



INDEX. 



379 



Johnson, Adam 24, 45, 127, 137 

Johnson, Burton 252, 258, 260, 262 

Johnson, Charles 17,33 

Johnson, Cornelius. . . 37, 55, 57, 58, 63, 65 

66, 71, 74, 78, 79,86 

87, 92,94, 97, 102 

Johnson, David 263, 266, 273, 276 

Johnson, Elisabeth 102 

Johnson, F 295 

Johnson, John, Jr 68, 75, 110, 134 

Johnson, John, Sr 63, 74, 96, 103 

105, 110 

Johnson, IVJartha 127 

Johnson, Robert 21, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61 

63, 65, 106, 108, 110, 116, 117 

Johnson, Susan 103 

Johnson, William 322 

Jones 9, 10 

Jones, Charles B 332 

Jones, Daniel 21, 134 

Jones, Evans 158 

Jones, Gabriel 21 

Jones, Griflfith, 17,21,35, 108, 109, 136,357 

Jones, Henry 89, 97 

Jones, Jane 155 

Jones, J. Comly 332 

Jones, John 135, ISO, 155 

Jones, Mary H 332 

Jones, Rachel Roberts 332 

Jones, Samwell 76, 87, 92 

Jones, Solomon 117,135 

Jones, Thomas 118, 135 

Joyce, Sarah 143 

Joyce, Thomas 143 

Jury of Women 103 

Kanning, Stephen 132 

Kearl, Ben 145 

Keene, Will 56, 58 

Keith, Col. William 26,46, 181, 183 

Kellam, Elizabeth 335 

Kellam, Mary 335 

Kellam, Thomas 335 

Kelly, Margaret 134 

Kelly, William 48 

Kemarr, Charles 326 

Kenninge, William.. . .67, 74, 75, 77, 80, 97 
106, 118, 135 

Kenny, Will 104, 105 

Kent County. .20, 22, 35, 51, 102, 134, 136 
137, 138, 157, 183, 229, 234, 238 

Kerle, Annto 154 

Kickatan 177 

Kickout Neck 64 

Kidd, Captain 42 

King, Betsy 358 

King Charles 6 

King, David 361, 365 

King, John 3, 12, 30, 56, 70, 75, 77, 96 

107, 110 

King, Mrs. Mary ,284 

King, Polly 358 

King, William 365, 369 

Kingsberry, Rev. Nathan 272, 283 

King's Collector 215 

Kipshaven, Bartree 54 

Kipshaven, Burkee 136 

Kipshaven, Honor 127, 128 



Kipshaven, John . .14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 29, 32 

33, 36, 37, 38, 40, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61 

62, 64, 65, 69, 72, 75, 76, 77, 82, 85, 88 

90,91,93, 100, 115, 127, 143 

Kipshaven, John, Jr 99, 127, 135 136 

Kipshaven, Martha 100, 127, 136 

Kipshaw, John 109 

Kirwithy (Cirwithen), Elizabeth .. . . 143 

Klaessen (Claessen), WiUem 36 

Knitting Street 182 

Knowles, Jane 129 

Knowles. Samuel 129 

Kockshall (Coggeshall), Rich 71 

Kollook, Col. Simon 27, 47, 320, 345 

Kollock, Comfort 338 

Kollock, Jacob.. . 46, 48, 52, 127, 140, 144 
230,294, 338, 339 

Kollock, James P. W 310 

Kollock, Margaret 332, 347 

Kollock, Mary 338 

Kollock, Phillip 247,320 

Kollock, Susanna 339 

Kurk, John 57, 58, 78, 79, 86 

Lacham, George 115 

Lamb, Abner 352 

Langhorne, Thomas 23, 118 

Latham, Adam 158 

Lattan, James 133 

Lawes, Richard.. .63, 64, 74, 75, 77, 78, 97 
104, 110, 114, 118, 124, 129 

Laytree, James 127 

Lee, Joseph 103 

Lee, Rt. Rev. Alfred, D.D 281 

Lehamaine, Philip Th 122, 138 

Lekater, Christopher 276 

Leonard, Samuel 107 

Lepay, Captain 48 

Leveritt, Elizabeth 103, 133 

Leveritt, Richard 103 

Levick, Richard 17, 33, 158 

Lewes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,20,23, 25, 38, 41, 42 

43,44,45, 51, 85, 172, 178, 181 
186,193,194,204,207 

Lewes Creek 7 

Lewes Road 48 

Lewis, Grace 136 

Lewis, Jonathan .- 352 

Lewis, Mary 353 

Lewis, Peter 42, 134, 136, 143 

Lewis Town 26, 27, 48, 5 

Lewis, William 57 

Lewis, Wrixam 52 

Leyes, James 60 

Lilevoort, John 134 

Lind, Mr 166, 168 

Lindsay, Robert 326 

Linton, John 322 

Lismore 231 

Liston, Edmund 48 

Litany Days 185 

Little Creek 18, 271 

Little, John, Jr 269 

Lloyd, John 21 

Lloyd, Mary 152 

Lloyd, Thomas 118, 122, 142 

Lloyd, William 103 

Lober, Michael 158 



380 



INDEX. 



Locke, Rev. Richard 232 

London, Bryan 145 

Long, James 270,273,276 

Long, Mr 265 

Lookerman, Nicholas 158 

Louicks, Richard 21 

Love Creek 114, 141 

Lovelace, Sir Francis 7, 8, 9, 10 

Love, Timothy 3 

Lowe, Joseph 71 

Lowing, William 95 

Lowther, George 45 

Luckassen, Peter 6 

Ludgar, Peter 24 

Lukens, Nathaniel 326 

Luker, Mr 354 

Lush, Ely 326 

Lynch, Author 153 

Ly...n, Rev. John 220, 235, 345 

McBean, Angus 52 

McCracken, Gilbert 328 

McCracken, John 259, 263,2 67 

McCracken, Randolph 328 

McHam 249, 251 

McHam, Hester 255, 257 

Mcllvaine, David M 254 

Mcllvaine, Mills 255 

McKean, Thomas 326 

McKee, Doctor 357, 358 

McKim, Rev. John Linn 277, 281 

Maccandlis, Thomas 154 

Maccomb, John 64 

Macnab, Joseph 136 

Maelsteyn, Sander 11, 30 

Magaw, Rev. Samuel 234 

Mahon, John 150 

Manloe, Alice 134 

Manloe, John 135 

Manlove, Ann 333 

Manlove, Elizabeth 330 

Manlove, Mark 333 

Manlove, Mary 332 

Manlove, Nathaniel 332 

Manlove, Ruth 332 

Manlove, Sarah 332 

Manlove, Thomas 333 

Manlove, William, Sr 332 

Manlove, William, Jr 332 

Margin, David 21 

Markham, Capt. William 97, 142 

Mariner, Thomas 132 

Marriner, Reece 275 

Marriner, Sarah 272, 273 275 

Marriner, Simon... .252, 258, 261, 264, 272 

273 

Marrott, Mary 341 

Marsh, Ann Mary 341 

Marsh. Esther 341 

Marsh, James P. W 341 

Marsh, John A 341 

Marsh, Dr. Joseph 341 

Marsh, Mary 341 

Marsh, Capt. Paul 12, 14, IS, 29, 30, 59 

86, 135 

Marsh, Peter 26, 342 

Marsh, Sarah Ann Mary 341 

Marshall, Catherine 343 



Marshall, Charles 23 

Marshall, David J 276 

Marshall, Eliza A 338 

Marshall, J. A 338 

Marshall, John 53,276,279,284 

Marshall, Mary Q 338 

Marshall, William, Sr. . . . 53, 276, 279, 281 

Marshall, William 343 

Martens, Bernard 50 

Martens, George 21, 38, 102 

Martin, Thomas 252 

Maryland. ..3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 30, 31 

32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 75, 78, 86, 107, 142 

149, 178, 187, 196, 198, 213, 225, 232 

234, 241 

Mason, Catherine 334 

Mason, Charles 334 

Mason, Charles, Jr 334 

Mason, Elias 335 

Mason, Jacob 334 

Mason, James 334 

Mason, Dr. James W 335 

Mason, Joseph S 334, 335 

Mason, Magdalen 335 

Mason, Margaret 129 

Mason, Mary 332 

Mason, Rachel 334 

Mason, Sarah 333 

Mason, William 129 

Mason, William S 334 

Massey, William 42 

Masten, David 334 

Masten, Deborah 334 

Masten, Hannah 333 

Masten, John 333 

Masten, Sarah 333 

Masten. William 333 

Masten. W. M 333 

Matthews, James 127 

Maud, Jane 137, 138 

Maull Family 341, 343 

Maull, James 52, 53, 310 

Maull, John 51, 52, 252,255, 258, 262 

266, 273, 276 

Maull, Nehemiah 52,53 

Maull, Peter 326 

May, Margaret 143 

May, Thomas 143, 146 

Medcalf , George 158 

Mein, Patrick 118 

Mennonists 34 

Merten. George 38 

MetcalE, Esther 330 

Metcalt, John 330 

Metcalf, Mary 330 

Metcalf, Thomas 330 

Michiel, Jan 3, 36 

Middleton, Mr 170 

Midgely, Thomas 152 

Midleton, EUinor 137 

Miers, Elizabeth 134 

Miers, John 40, 42, 126, 134, 141, 143 

Miers, Mary 134 

Milby, John 270, 274, 276 

Miles, Colonel 53 

Milford 266, 268, 270, 274 

275,277,278,283 
Mill Creek 126 



INDEX. 



381 



MiUen, Robert 21 

Millen, William 21 

Millenor, Robert 56, 58 

Miller, Jlary 352 

Milliner, Rebecka 137 

Milliner, Jojin 150 

Millington, John 138, 141 

Millner. Mercy 137, 150 

Millner, William 137 

Mills, James 30 

Miscellaneous Records 285 

Mispillion Creek 82, 84, 88, 141 

Mitchell, Mark 143, 151 

Molestine, Abraham 142 

Molestine, Alexander. .4, 12, 14, 16, 17, 22 

26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 46, 55 

58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 65, 69, 75, 77, 80 

93, 102, 108, 110, 116, 124, 135 

Molestine, Alexander, Jr 143 

Molestine, Elizabeth 143 

Molestine, Henry 42, 67, 122, 135, 138 

148, 157 

Molestine, John 47, 142 

Molestine, Lidia 142 

Molestine, Margaret 100, 133, 138, 141 

148 

Molestine, Mary 138 

Molestine, Thomas 79, 142, 155 

Molleston, William 53 

Moore, Isaac 143 

Moore, John 103, 113 

Moore, Major 356 

Moore, Mr 199 

Moore, Mrs 199 

Moore, N 98 

Morgan, Edward 137, 149 

Morgan, Mary 151 

Morgan, Thomas 138, 143 

Morgan, William 157 

Morris, Phillip 54, 62 

Morris, Samuel, Jr 52 

Mosely, Elizabeth 134 

Mosely, Hannah 134 

Mosely, William 134 

Moulder, Jane 342 

Moulder, Mary 342 

Mountveale, Capt 61 

Mulberry Street 40, 41, 182 

Murder Kill 346 

Murdick, Robert 29,37,65, 137 

Mvirffy. Charles 102 

MurtherkiU 8, 19, 33, 134 

MusmiUian Creek 131, 356 

Muster Roll of 1846 311 

Muther Creek 33 

Myers, Henry 276 

Myles, Mr 170 

Nandins, Mr 47 

Narragansett 142, 170 

Naws, Benjamin 370 

Naws, Edmund 46 

Naws, Edward 345 

Naws, John 370 

Neill, Rev. Edward S 317 

Neill, Col. Henry 321 

NeiU, Rev. Hugh 193 

Neill, Dr. John 318 



Neill, Joseph 25 

Nesbit, Mr 53 

Newall, John 56, 58, 157 

Newall, William 158 

New Amstel 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 30 

New Amsterdam 6 

Newbold 48 

New Castle.. .7, 9, 10, 17,21, 22, 36,47, 51 

80, 81,84,85, 142, 177, 181 

187. 192, 204, 207, 223, 225 

259,294, 343, 35 5 

New Church 268, 284 

Newcomb, Ann, . .79, 80, 94, 114, 137, 151 

Newcomb, Baptis.67, 69, 74, 77, 79, 80, 87 

92, 94, 97, 102, 104, HI, 121, 137, 151 

Newcomb, Baptist, Jr 151 

Newcomb, Daniel 151 

Newcomb, David 151 

Newcomb, William 151 

Newell, George 158 

New England 137,141, 142, 233 

New Jersey 51, 220 

Newmains, Mrs 199 

New Netherland 3, 4, 5, 11, 21, 34 

New York.. .8, 10, 11, 21, 22, 25, 30, 31, 32 
33, 39, 57, 60, 61, 120, 122 
142, 153,236,238, 272, 343 

NichoUs, Captain 10 

Nicholls, Governor 33 

NichoUs, Matthias 17,32 

Nicholls, Samuel 157 

Nickerson, Joseph 158 

Nixon, Edward 25 

Norman, Anne 340 

Norman, Annes 340 

Norman, Eliza 340 

Norman, John 340 

Norman, John B 340 

Norman, Joshua L 340 

Norman, Mary 340 

Norman, Mills R 340 

Norman, Miriam 340 

Norman, Patience 340 

Norman, Purnal 340 

Norman, Thomas 278, 280, 340 

Norman, Thomas L., Judge 340 

Norris, Admiral Sir John 176 

Northampton County, 137 

North Carolina 48 

Norwick 232 

Nunez, Daniel 46 

Nunez, Daniel, Jr.. .249, 294, 338, 345, 348 

Nunez, Esther 339 

Nunez, Hen. 338 

Nunez, Mary 338, 345, 347 

Nunez, Moses 339 

Oakey, John 55,59,63,66,68,69, 77 

80,93, 100, 103, 110, 150 

Oakey, Mary 110 

Oboab, Moses 141 

Oharon, Timothy 158 

Oldraan, Elizabeth 140, 144 

Oldman, Thomas 41, 42, 123, 136, 140 

144, 154 

Oliver, Alexander 101 

Oliver, Levi 255 

Ollerton 189 



382 



INDEX. 



Orema, L 21 

Orion, William 141 

Orr, John 269 

Orr, William 42, 124, 155 

Orr, William P 282, 284 

Orr's Mill 128 

Orton, George i 340 

Orton, Hannah 340 

Orton, William 340 

Osborne, Capt. John 75, 86, 96 

Osborne, Matthew 76, 93, 138, 148 

Outim, John 57 

Owen, Magdalen : 335 

Pack, E 21 

Pagan Creek 65, 134 

Page. William 62, 65 

Paling, Simon 29, 37, 56, 110, 111, 154 

Palmer, Anthony 51, 52 

Parishof Sussex County. 197, 215,226, 234 

Parke, Thomas 158 

Parker, Anderson .132, 247, 320 

Parker, Edward 132 

Parker, George 247,251, 261, 263 

273, 276, 279, 281 

Parker, George, Jr 276, 279, 281 

Parker, John 254, 258, 260, 263 

266,268, 273, 276 

Parker, John, Jr 274, 275 

Parker, Matthew 129 

Parker, Thomas 132 

Parkiomen 184 

Parktown 347 

Parling, Elizabeth 54, 111, 134 

Parling, Simon 56, 71, 80,90, 116, 13+ 

Parmore (Palmer), Tabitha 359 

Parr, Richard 144 

Parradee, John 157 

Parradee, Steven 157 

Parrit the Indian 62, 76 

Parrit's Neck 65 

Parrot 10 

Parry, Ester 130, 140 

Parry, Rowland 140 

Parsley, Anthony 77, 80, 126 

Parsley, Elizabeth 137 

Parvis, William 157 

Patte, Ann 150 

Patte, John 150 

Patte, Lidy 137, ISO 

Patte, Richard... .59,65,66, 77, 78, 79,92 
95. 113. 150 

Pawling, Dina 154 

Paynter, Albert J 339 

Pavnter, Cornelius 252,256, 259, 261 

263,274,276 

Paynter, David 274, 275 

Paynter, Eliza 331 

Paynter, Elizabeth 331 

Paynter, James J 339 

Paynter, Jane 124, 339 

Paynter, John P 129, 155, 282 

Paynter, Mary 136, 331 

Paynter, Mary S 339 

Paynter, Richard, Jr 124, 125, 134 

144, 280 

Paynter, Sally 129, 136, 137, 141 

154,358,361 



Paynter, Samuel Rowland 331 

Paynter, Samuel, Sr 129, 136, 154,251 

253, 255, 258, 262, 273, 274, 276, 330, 331 

Paynter, Samuel, Jr 256, 258, 259, 261 

263, 266, 273, 276, 281, 361, 330 

Paynter, Sarah H 339, 358, 362 

Paynter, William 274, 276, 279, 282 

339, 363 

Pearce, Jno 120, 138 

Peaty, Richard 17, 33 

Pedington, Henry 89 

Pemberton, Elizabeth 135, 144 

Pemberton, Joseph 47, 187, 223 

Pemberton, Capt. Thomas 40, 41, 42 

45, 62, 93, 124, 125, 143, 151, 154 

Pendree, Margaret 136 

Penn, Hon. John 326 

Penn, John 294 

Penn's Heirs 187 

Penn, William 21, 33, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 

85,98,99, 100, 101, 112, 113 

Pennewell, David 361 

Pennewell, Mrs 363, 365 

Pennsylvania 21, 22, 51, 80, 81, 83, 84 

85, 179, 183, 187 

Permaine, Henry 138 

Permaine, Henry, Jr 138 

Permaine, Jane 138 

Pematry, Robert R 21 

Perrot, Richard 8 

Petefar, Herry 6 

Peterkin, Elizabeth 135 

Peterkin, James 42, 134, 143, 149, 154 

Peterkin, Jane 135, 154 

Peterkin, Thomas 154 

Peters, Rev. Mr 186, 221, 234, 237 

Petters, Abraham 106 

Pettitt, Jane 148 

Pettly, Thomas 112 

Phelman, Thomas 156 

Philadelphia...22, 23, 24, 35,41, 42, 44,45 
49, SO, 137, 138, 144 

Phillips, Hester 347 

Phillips, Jacob 48 

Phillips, Thomas 17, 18, 30, 120 

Pickering, Charles 24, 122, 142 

Pieters, Abraham 36 

Pieters, Anthony 36 

Piles, Affyance 143 

Piles, Comfort 143 

Piles, Isaac 143 

Piles, Rebecca 145 

Piles, William 127, 250 

Piles, William, Jr 151 

Pilot Town 345 

Pindar, Thomas 56, 58, 59 

Pinner, Sarah 345, 350 

Piscatawav 179 

Planer, William 13, 37, 38, 68 

Plasket, Ann 220 

Plasket, J. P 220 

Pleasanton, John 158 

Plockhoy 3, 6, 34, 87, 97, 285-8 

Plomer, Henry 21 

Plundering of Lewes 41,47 

Pocleut Letebt 154 

Pocopson 103 

Polk, Elizabeth 333 



INDEX. 



383 



Polk, Ephraim 333 

Polk, John 271 

Polk, Mary 333 

Polk, William 255, 258 

Pollard, Samuel 143 

Pomfrey, Walter Ill 

Pond (Blockhouse) 25 

Ponder, Alexander 158 

Ponder, John 158 

Pope, Samuel 138, 141 

Port Lewis 45 

Porter, Abell 113 

Porter, Robert 21 

Pothooks Creek 124 

Potter, Abraham 60, 67, 129 

Potter, Jane 128, 137 

Powel, Walter M 21 

Prentice, William 23, 29, 32, 37 

40, 59, 112 

Presbyterian Records 317 

Presbyterians 224 

Preston, Samuel 125, 146, 152, 154 

Prettyman, Frances 131 

Prettyman, James 268 

Prettyman, Thomas 268 

Price, Catheren 156 

Price, Catherine 156 

Price, Ian 156 

Price, John 138 

Price, Mrs. Eliza 345 

Price of Pews 252 

Price, Rachell 156 

Price, Thomas, Sr...23, 121, 138, 146, 155 

Price, Thomas, Jr 149, 150, 156 

Price, William 156 

Prime Hook 20,22,23, 78, 79,88 

97, 112, 137, 138, 141 

Prince, Ed 21 

Prison 128 

Pryor, Thomas 52 

Pullen, Capt 43, 44 

Pulpit Hangings 235 

Putteet, John 126, 155 

Pye, John 80, 150, 151 

Quakers 45, 178, 224, 369 

Quant, Thomas 47 

Queen's Road 128 

Quincy, Rev. Mr ' 234 

Rawlings, William 326 

Ray, Alexander 18, 21, 34 

Rayman, Dina 154 

Rayman, Mary 144 

Rayman, Peter 144, 154 

Rechardson, John, Jr 21 

Redwood, John 24, 41, 141 

Reed, Captain 52 

Register, John 157 

Rehobah Bay 17 

Rehoboth 26, 124, 136 

Rehoboth Bay 33, 71, 78, 198 

Rehoboth Creek 3 

Renords, Richard 137 

Rest, William 114 

Reveille, Randall 3, 13, 37 

Reynolds, John 158 

Reynolds, Rev. John 279, 280 



Rhoads, Ellenor 26 

Rhoads, Hinman 26, 249 

Rhoads, Margaret 26 

Rhode Island 142 

Richards, EUoner 135 

Richards, John 85, 87, 89, 104 

138, 142, 155 

Richards, Mary H 155 

Richards, Robert 76, 104, 105, 135 

Richards, Sarah 138 

Richards, William 52, 155 

Richards, Wm. M. L 284 

Richardson, Hannah 134 

Richardson. James 134 

Richardson or Richards, John. ..16, 17, 18 

33, 34 

Richardson, Mary 144 

Richeson, John R 21 

Rickets, Reece 353 

Rida, Nance 361 

Ridont, J 321, 322 

Rideout, Nichols 136 

Rigs, Ann 137, 139 

Rigs, George 137, 139 

Risbie, Capt. James 326 

River Lewes 25 

Roads, Comfort 119, 123, 138 

Roads, Elizabeth 134,. 135, 136, 138 

151, 152 

Roads, John 110, 115, 119, 121, 123 

135, 137, 138, 152, 249, 250 

Roads, Patience 138, 151, 152 

Roberts, James 53 

Roberts, Joseph 331 

Roberts, Mary Hillborn 331 

Roberts, Rachel 331 

Robinson, Alfred P 283 

Robinson, Burton 366 

Robinson, George 158 

Robinson, John 303 

Robinson, Peter 247, 250, 256, 320 

Rodney, Caesar 158 

Rodney, Caleb 255, 257, 266, 270, 292 

Rodney, Captain 164 

Rodney, Danl 158 

Rodney, Daniel 249, 251, 253, 257, 261 

272, 276, 279, 282, 283, 309 

Rodney, Henry F 276 

Rodney, John 52, 255, 257, 279, 282 

Rodney, John, Jr 276, 280 

Rodney, Nicholas R 280 

Rodney, Thomas 269, 273, 274, 310 

Rodney, William 35, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66 

69, 96, 123, 136, 138, 158 

Roebuck 53 

Roebuck Frigate 326 

Rogers, John 135 

Rogers, Thomas 78 

Roods (Rhoads), John ... 4, 15, 16, 17, 18 

22, 23, 26, 30, 32, 33, 36, 46, 47, 55 

56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70 

72, 77, 79,80, 81, 82, 85, 81, 92 

Roots (Rhoads), Doctor Jan. ... 11, 15, 30 

32, 33,40 

Ross, Edward 357 

Ross, George. .172, 184, 187, 199, 225, 227 

Ross, William 53, 321, 325 

Row, Frederick 253, 257 



384 



INDEX. 



Rowland, Elizabeth 330 

Rowland, Mary 149 

Rowland, Sally 357 

Rowland, Samuel 28, 42, 43, 46, 51 

Rowland, Samuel, Jr 51 

Rowland, William 51 

Rowles, Bartree 94 

Rowles, Bryant 15, 56, 77, 78, 86 

Rumbolt, Francis 59,61 

Russel, Mary 353 

Russell, Betty 362 

Russell, Bubba 363 

Russell, Hannah 355, 359, 361 

Russell, John 46, 247, 251, 282 

Russell, Joseph 366 

Russell, Liddy 355 

Russell, Lydia 362, 364, 369 

Russell, Philip 23, 45,46, 118, 121 

122, 123, 137, 143 

Russell, Phillip 182 

Russell, Sarah 138, 144 

Ryan, Edvvard 18 

St. George's Chapel 191, 194, 221, 226 

227, 232, 233, 248, 252, 338, 345 

St. Giles 65, 106 

St. Jacob 6 

St. John's Parish 158 

St. John's (Sussex Co.) 241 

St. John the Baptist Chapel 193, 202 

225, 226 

St. Jones County 19, 20,21,85 

St. Tones Creek 17, 20 

St. Marys 10, 32, 40 

St. Matthew's Chapel 158, 160, 191 

202, 225, 227, 232, 233, 234, 346 

St. Paul's 234, 238 

St. Peters 247, 250 

St. Peter's Church 213, 222, 230, 232 

St. Peter's Congregation 157, 191, 234 

Sadler, Mickell 139 

Samuel, Corporal 5, 6 

Sander, Anthony 36 

Sanders 10 

Sanders, Charles 123, 142 

Sanders, Mr 104 

Sargent, Stephen 126, 138 

Saverus, Hendrick 150 

Savidge, John 60, 68, 76, 102, 113, 126 

Scarbrough, Mathew 92, 113 

Schey, Ferdinand 278 

School at Lewes 327 

Schoolmaster 2 

Schnieder, John 53 

Scotland 170 

Scott, Comfort 136 

Scott, Ferimia 141 

Scott, Jane 146 

Scott, Jeremiah 117 

Seaford 278 

Seaton, Ann 135 

Seatton, James 143, 154 

Selthuge, Wilham 147 

Senior, Mary 132 

Shackleday, James 18, 33 

Shackley, John 59,61,63 

Shackelys Plantation 18 

Shaltham, Jacob 59, 61, 86, 93, 135 



Shankland, Ann 340 

Shankland, Ann Mary 341 

Shankland, John 47 

Shankland, Mills 340 

Shankland, Patience 340 

Shankland, Rhoades 340 

Shankland, Robert 46 

Shankland, Sarah 340 

Shankland, William 47, 340 

Shard, Randolph (Chirurgeon). , .110, 114 

134 

Sharp, John 170 

Sharpe, Horo 323 

Shattain, Jacob 67 

Shaw, Henry 158, 203 

Shaw, William 326, 335 

Sheepard, Harcklos 67,93,96,97, 105 

108, 115, 131, 135 

Sheepard, Mary 131 

Shibo, Mr 165 

Shields, Luke 48, 49, 130, 335, 342 

Shields, Mary 335, 342 

Ship Society 115 

Shipcarpenter Street 2 5 

Shoulter, Richard. . .65, 69, 74, 77, 93, 133 

142 

Showell, Samuel 75, 78 

Sickoneysincks Kil 12 

Sikeoyness 1 

Sikes, EHzabeth 118, 140 

Sikes, Helen 137 

Sikes, James 121, 138, 140 

Sikes, Nathaniel 118, 121, 138 

Sikoness 1,5 

Silby, Thomas 77 

Simons, Johana 135, 144 

Simons, John .105, 107, 135, 138, 144 

Simons, Mary 55 

Simons, William 71 

Simmons, Will 106 

Sims, Henrietta 294 

Simson, James 136, 154 

Simson, Margaret 134, 136, 154 

SkeUinger, William 280 

Skidemor, Henry.. 63, 65, 66, 68, 78, 85, 97 

Skilley, Rev. William 251, 252,253 

Slater Creek 13, 76,92,97, 112, 356 

Slater Neck 63, 68, 155 

Slawter, Thos 158 

Slicher, Wigbolt 35 

Smith, Doctor 13 

Smith, Rev. Dr 220, 221, 234 

Smith, Francis 24 

Smith, Henry 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 30 

31,32,36,38,39,40,63,64,66,93 

102, 112 

Smith, Henry, Jr.63, 69, 78, 79, 85, 90, 137 

146 

Smith, Isaac 320 

Smith. Jane 145 

Smith, Jenlcin ISO 

Smith, John.. 56, 57, 58, 77, 78, 92, 95, 130 

Smith, Judge 10 

Smith, Mary 134, 145 

Smith, Nathaniell 114 

Smith, Pieter 36 

Smith, Robert 46, 47 

Smith, Sarah 137. 146 



INDEX. 



385 



Smith, Thomas 130 

Smith, William 24, 143, 145 

Snouds, Mrs 356 

Soldiers of 1813 292 

Somerset County 3, 25, 75, 86, 96, 112 

135, 182,225,241 

South River 1, 2, 6, 1 1, 30 

South Seas 43 

Southrin, Ed 12, 14, 15, 17, 29, 30, 31 

32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 55, 57, 58, 63, 66 

67, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 90, 95, 99 

107, 133, 135 

Southrin, Mary 133, 135 

Spartes, William 21 

Spencer, Frances 141, 143, 148 

Spencer, John 337, 343, 344 

Spencer, Major HI, 122, 141, 145 

Spencer, Margaret 141, 143 

Spencer, William, Jr 116, 141, 143, 146 

S. P. G. Journal 228 

Spicer, Mathew 132 

Spooner, Charles 124, 137 

Spooner, Charles 71, 136, 154 

Spooner. Susanna 137 

Squyer, Peter 145 

Staplton, William 149 

Starges, Honor 127 

Starges, Jonathan 127 

Star, Dick 360 

Starr, Author 25, 96, 108, 116, 117, 135 

137, 144 

Starr, Catherine 135, 141, 144 

Starr, Nathaniel 150 

Staten Island 206, 207 

Staton, Comfort 351 

Staton, Esther 336 

Staton, Margaret M 336 

Staton, Warrington S36 

Stayton, Comfort 351 

Stayton, Eliza 348 

Steel, James 46 

Stephen, Adam 294, 321, 325 

Stephens & Booth 107 

Stevens, Henry H 21 

Stevens, John 13, 16, 17, 18, 33 

Stevens, Richard 55 

Stiles, George 42 

StoakUe, John 42, 125 

Stoaklie, Woodman 124 

Stockley, Burton 276 

Stockley, Sarah 260 

Stockley, Paynter 52 

Stockley, Woodman 250, 256,260 

Stocks 117, 118 

Stokeley, Elizabeth 137 

Storey, Nathan 53 

Streacher, Thomas 65 

Streate, Joane 60, 94, 107, 110 

Strecther, Mrs 355 

Streeter, Henry 14, 32, 96 

Stretcher, Edward 143, 149 

Stretcher, Mr. Fenwick 198, 203 

Stretcher, Loury 144 

Strieker (Stracher), Henry. . .3, 23, 42, 55 

56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68 

70, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 81, 85, 86 

92, 105, 108, 117, 120, 121, 129 

134, 135, 138, 149, 154 



Strieker, Sarah.lOO, 133, 137, 138,411, 144 

Stubbs, Rev. Mr 162 

Stuckbury, EUenor 135, 136 

Stuckbury, John 135, 136 

Sturgis, Stephen 328, 335 

Stuyvesant, Petrus 3,5 

Styles, Samuel 17, 18, 32 

Subscribers for St. Peter's Church. . 222 
Subscription List for Becket's Farm. 216 

218 

Suffragan Bishop 188 

Sugars, Sarah 143 

Sumerford, Jeffrey.. .67, 100, 102, 103, 110 

Sussex County 2, 7, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 

27. 28, 35, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46 
47,51, 52,81,82, 83,84, 85 

Sussex County Enlarged 234 

Sussex on Delaware 165, 169, 171 

181, 197,220 

Sutton 157 

Swaanendael 1,2 

Swain, John 106 

Swedes 2,21 

Sweney, John 276 

Swetman, Jean 149 

Swetman, William 124, 149 

Syonsen, Yoems 138 

Taelus, Michiel 6 

Talbot County 153 

Talbot, Rev. Mr 162 

Tarrant, Thomas 158 

Tasker, Benj 324 

Tayler, Mathew 71 

Tayler, WiUiam 37, 75 

Taylor, Apalina 136 

Taylor, Elizabeth 143 

Taylor, Christopher 133 

Taylor, John '. 158 

Tea Ships 318 

Terry, A. H 159 

Thomas, Ann 137 

Thomas, Governor 204, 210 

Thomas, James 138 

Thompson, George 42 

Thompson, James 53 

Thompson,, Jane C 339 

Thompson, John M 339 

Thompson, Sarah 339 

Thompson, Rev. Thomas 220 

Thome, Rev. Sydenham 238, 344. 349 

Thornton, David 158 

Thornton, Elishe 160 

Till, WilUam 27, 28, 29, 45, 183, 211 

Tillotson, Abp 209, 210, 211 

Tilton, John 157 

Timber Neck 25 

Timber Neck 25 

Tingley, Rev. Samuel.. .221, 222, 237, 238 
346, 348 

Tom, William 7 

Tomson, Ezekiel 158 

Tenny, Diggerie 42 

Tomlinson, Robert 139 

Torbut, Esseble 137 

Toryism 346 

Townsend, Jacob 160 

Townsend, John 67, 71 



386 



INDEX. 



Townsend, Will 55, 62, 67,86,92 

Trenton 220 

Trotter, Will 55,66,68,88,92,93, 108 

Trout, Elizabeth 143 

Truitt, George 135 

Truitt, Joanna 345, 350 

Truitt, John 345, 350 

Truitt, Sarah 345, 350, 352 

Trustees, St. Georges 247, 250 

Trustees, St. John the Baptist 000 

Trustees, St. Matthews 000 

Trustees, St. Peters 247, 250, 283 

Truxton, Elizabeth 339 

Truxton, Thomas 339 

Truxton, William 339 

Tryal, James 158 

Tucker, Elizabeth 143 

Tucker, Henry 143 

Tucker, John 158 

Tull, John 000 

Tull, Hatha 151 

Tull, Mr -. 363 

Tull, Richard 138 

Turner, Isaac 258, 265,267, 270 

Turner, Joseph 50 

Turner, Martin 158 

Turner, Robert 137 

Tuxbury, EUmer 150 

Tuxbury, John 135, ISO 

Upland 30 

Ussher. Rev. Arthur 186, 228, 231. 348 

Van Courtland, Capt., Stephanus. ... 142 

Vandehyden, Mathias 73 

Van den Borgh, Hendrick 142 

Vanderhagen, Mathias 135 

Van Frenhoven 2 

Van Kirk, Ard Johnson. .55, 101, 122, 141 
145, 148 

Van Kirk, Grace Johnson 148 

Van Renssalaer, Kilian 1,2 

Van Ruy ven 5 

Van Sweeringen, SherifE 5 

Vent, James 366 

Verhoofe, Cornelius.. . 14, 15, 16, 19, 21,22 

29, 31, 33, 36, 37, 55, 59, 63, 65, 66, 68 

69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 85 

97, 102, 107, 110, 114, 134 

Verhoofe, Eve 134 

Verplank, Guxlaine 37 

Vessels, Henry 357 

Vestry Records 247 

Vines, John 22, 23, 33, 37, 54, 55, 67 

68, 70, 72, 75, 77, 79, 84, 85, 90, 94 
102, 107, 111, 118, 145 

Vines, Katherine 116, 133 

Virginia 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 30, 31, 33, 37 

93,96, 103, 113, 137 

Virginia 172, 173, 177, 179 

196, 221, 227, 237 
Voshall, Obadiah 158 

Walker, Capt., Nathaniel.. . . 17, 33, 54, 56 
57, 58, 65, 70, 72, 85, 88, 93, 133, 137 

Walker, James 45, 127, 136, 143, 154 

Walker, James 344, 350 

Walker, James Miers 345, 350 

Walker, John 21, 111, 136 



Walker, Mary 344, 350 

Waller, Mrs 35 7 

Walker, Robert 148 

Waltham, John 45 

Walton, George 46 

Walton, William 158 

Waples, Burton 247 

Wardens, St. Peters 250 

Wargent, William 67,111 

Warner, Edmond 88, 89, 102 

War of 1813 273,288-93 

Warren, Jacob 113, 123, 138 

Warrin, Robert 64 

Warrin, Sarah 91 

Warrington, Peter 280 

Warrington, Stephen 260, 262 

Warrington, Thomas.. . .260, 262, 265, 268 
273,275 

Warrington, William 198 

Washington, John 104 

Water Mill 126 

Watson, Captain 41 

Watson, Elizabeth 150 

Watson, Elizabeth 169 

Watson, Isaac 143 

Watson, John 137, 143 

Watson, Joseph 360 

Watson, Luke 353 

Watson, Luke, Jr. .137, 138, 149, 150. 151 

Watson, Margaret 137 

Watson, Mary 137, 149 

Watson, Samuel 137 

Watson, William 18 

Wattson, Luke. ...16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 32 

33, 40, 41, 44, 45, 55, 56, 58, 60, 62 

63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77 

78, 80, 81, 82, 85, 91, 95, 106, 116 

123, 129, 155 

Wattson, Luke, Jr 42, 60, 130, 146 

Wattson, Sarah 129, 137 

Webb, Abigail 160 

Webb, Hannah Thompson 343 

Webb, Jacob 343 

Webb, Mary Bedford 343 

Webb, Sylvester. ..160 ,263, 266, 269, 272 

Webe, Isaac 21, 137 

Webe, Mary 137 

Webster, John 21. 137 

Webster, Rachel 131 

Weedon, James 36 

Weems, Mason Locke 241, 246 

Weems, Parson 269 

Welbor, John 347 

Welch, Nehemiah D 158 

Welius, Domine 5 

Wellbume, Thomas 14, 31, 32, 55 

Wells, James 16, 17, 32, 33, 40, 56.57 

58, 59, 67 

Wells, John 151 

Wells, John 157 

Wells, Thos 158 

Wells, Thos., Jr 157 

Wells, William Hill 295, 299, 309 

Welton, Rev. Doctor 187, 189 

Wessels, Gerardus 115 

West, Abigail 132 

West, Elizabeth 132 

West, George 131 

West India Company 1,2 



INDEX. 



387 



"R'est Jersey 142, 154 

West, John 131, 132 

West, John 267, 269,276 

West, Major. John 13, 14, 31 

West, Tabitha 132 

West, Thomas 131 

Westcott, Mary 132 

Westly, Richard 44, 45 

Wcstrom, Abram 107, 134 

Wetherspoon, David 48 

We\-man, Robert 184 

Whalebone 115 

Wharton, Walter 7, 8, 10 

Whetmann, Stephen.. 65. 71, 77, 86, 87, 90 

96 

Whipping Post 117 

Whitefield, Mr 209, 210, 212, 215 

White, Grace 138 

White, John 115, 136 

White, Samuel 115 

White-Marsh 184 

White Wrixham 134, 138 

Whitesides, Rev 278 

Whitman, Stephen 104, 108, 139, 141 

WTiittman, Elizabeth 100 

^Vhittman, John 100 

Whitwell, Frances 16, 17, 21, 32, 33, 38, 40 

Whore Kill 2, 3, 7,9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 

20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39 
40, 42, 81, 82, 84, 85 

Wickes, Rev. William 272 

Widows, &c., of the County 100 

Wilkins, Andone 3S7 

Willbank, Mr 198 

William and Mary 24 

William and Nicholas 6 

William, Richard, Jr 127 

Williams, Anne 131 

Williams, Edward 63, 64, 66, 70, 144 

Williams, Ffrancis... .76, 77, 104, 135, 136 

Williams, Henry 113 

Williams, James 118 

Williams, John 44 

Williams, John 117 

Williams, Rebecca 141, 150 

Williams, Reynear 160 

Williams, Richard 54, 55, 56, 126, 127 

Williams, Robert 57, 58, 59, 78, 89 

Williams, Thomas 18, 2 1, 34 

Willis, Richard 113 

Willoughby, William 13, 18 

Willson, Mercy 150 

Willson, Rev. Matthew 2 50, 3 1 7 

Willson, Thomas 150 

Wilminston 280, 282 

Wilson, Dr 357 

Wilson, James 364 

Wilson, Mary P 331 

Wilson, Mr 347,349, 351,-353 

Wilson, Simon K 331 

Wilson, Thomas 250 

Wiltbank, Abigail 133 

Wiltbank, Abraham 51, 52 

Wiltbank, Abraham 124, 133, 150 

Wiltbank, Abraham, Jr 133 

Wiltbank, Ann 329 

Wiltbank, Anne 133 

Wiltbank, Comly J 330 

Wiltbank, Cornelius 42, 44, 45, 47 



Wiltbank, Cornelius. . . . 126, 135, 143, ISO 

Wiltbank, Cornelius. . . .251, 253, 256, 258 

261, 263, 273, 329, 347 

Wiltbank, Cornelius, Jr 253, 322 

Wiltbank, Dr. Alfred Stockley 330, 332 

Wiltbank, EHzabeth 143 

Wiltbank, Esther 329 

Wiltbank, Fonira 133 

Wiltbank, Frank Comly 330 

Wiltbank, George 353 

Wiltbank, Halmanus. . . .56, 57, 58, 61, 62 

67, 68, 70, 73, 74, 78, 79, 86, 87, 89 

91, 97, 102, 104, 105 

Wiltbank, Halmanius Frederick.. .3, 4, 11 

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 29, 30, 31 

32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59 

61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 

73, 74, 78, 79,80,81,86 

Wiltbank, Isaac 124, ISO 

Wiltbank, Jacob 133 

Wiltbank, John 247, 251, 276, 320, 329 

Wiltbank, John, Jr 322 

Wiltbank, Jonica 100, 113, 115, 143 

Wiltbank, Mary Elizabeth 332, 368 

Wiltbank, Rebecca 136 

Wiltbank, Rev. James. .251, 254, 256, 258 
259, 261, 263, 266, 268, 271, 331 

Wiltbank, Robert 330 

Wiltbank, Samuel Paynter 330 

Winch, John 145 

Winder, Robert 3 

Winder's Neck 93 

Windmill 119 

Winn, Elizabeth 130, 137, 138 

Winn, Thomas, Dr 113, 118, 119, 121 

123, 130, 137 

Winster, Johannis 130, 136, 138 

Winster, Peter 130 

Wocon, John 116 

Wolfe, John 252, 255, 258, 262, 268 

Wolfe, Mary 130 

Wolfe, Reece 247,252, 276, 338 

Wolfe, Rice 130 

Wolfe, William 150 

Wolfenden, Mary 155 

Wolgast, Otto 4, 14, 17, 18, 29, 33, 36 

37, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 106, 110, 114 

Wolves 109, 116 

Wood, Robert 158, 330 

Woodward, Harry 323 

Woolf, Daniel. .255, 258, 268, 273, 275, 338 

Woolf, Sarah 338 

Woolf, William 252, 258, 260, 266, 270, 273 

Worcester County 232 

Wright, Nat 364 

Wrighte, John 135 

Wynkoop, John 47 

Wynne, John 138 

Yeates, Jasper 45, 47 

Yerris, Barrant • 154 

York, Duke of 19,20,21,80,84 

Yorke 33 

Young, Caly 358 

Young, Catherine 344 

Young, George. ... 18, 23, 33, 55, 59, 74, 75 
77, 78, 79,90, 96, 135 

Young, John 344, 349, 365 

Young, Mary 59, 135, 349 



umi